Skin Picking Approach Avoidance Task

NCT04099537 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: SPAAT2018
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 45
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Pathological skin picking (PSP) is conceptualized as a behavioral addiction. Research has shown that behavioral addictions (e.g., problematic alcoholism or smoking) can be reduced using a cognitive retraining tool called approach-avoidance training (AAT). Participants will be randomly assigned to a single-session of AAT: (a) approach training, (b) avoidance training, or (c) placebo training and will be assessed at baseline, post-training (i.e., 30 minutes after training), and 2-week follow up. The investigators hypothesize that those in the approach training will show greater reduction in approach tendencies at post-treatment and 2-week follow up, compared to those in the approach training or placebo conditions. This study may produce data that will guide the development of a training program that focuses on the maladaptive action tendencies in skin picking symptoms.

Conditions

Skin-Picking

Keywords

skin picking; cognitive training; approach-avoidance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Changes in Behavioral Approach Tendency After a Single Training Session

  This assessment evaluates behavioral approach (i.e., reaction time to avoid - reaction to approach) to irregular skin stimuli before and after training (i.e., the AAT). The investigators will measure reaction time to approach irregular skin stimuli before training and then measure changes in reaction time to approach irregular skin stimuli immediately after training (i.e., post-training; defined as 30 minutes after training). The investigators will then average the reaction time for each group, and then evaluate statistical differences between groups.

  Pre-training, Post-training (30-minutes after training)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Changes in Urges to Pick After Training

  Pre-training, Post-training (30-minutes after training)

• Changes in scores on the Skin Picking Scale-Revised (SPS-R).

  Pre-training, 2 weeks (follow-up)

Study Arms (3)

Approach cognitive training

EXPERIMENTAL

This training is a single session training. Each session lasts about 30 minutes where participants are to pull the joystick toward (approach) them when seeing skin stimuli on a computer screen.

Behavioral: Computerized cognitive training

Avoidance cognitive training

EXPERIMENTAL

This training is a single session training. Each session lasts about 30 minutes where participants are to push the joystick away (avoidance) from them when seeing skin stimuli on a computer screen.

Behavioral: Computerized cognitive training

Placebo cognitive training

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

This training is a single session training. Each session lasts about 30 minutes where participants are to push and pull the joystick towards or away from them (no rule) when seeing skin stimuli on a computer screen.

Behavioral: Computerized cognitive training

Interventions

Computerized cognitive training BEHAVIORAL

Participants are trained to approach or avoid stimuli of skin using a joystick. Participants are to pull or push the joystick toward or away when skin stimuli are present. Thus, behaviorally, there may be an increase, decrease, or no change in approach tendencies towards skin.

Approach cognitive training; Avoidance cognitive training; Placebo cognitive training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• A current diagnosis of skin picking
• Moderate symptoms of skin picking a Skin Picking Severity Scale (SPS) score of ≥ 7
• Ages 18-60,
• Fluent English speakers.

You may not qualify if:

• Self-reported visual impairment that cannot be adjusted and will prevent participants from clearly recognizing words and pictures on computer screen
• A positive diagnosis of bipolar disorder or psychotic disorder

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee: lead

Study Sites (1)

Psychology Clinic, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53211, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Excoriation Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Self-Injurious Behavior; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Anxiety Disorders; Mental Disorders; Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders

Study Officials

• Han Joo Lee, Ph.D.

  University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 9, 2019
• First Posted: September 23, 2019
• Study Start: July 2, 2018
• Primary Completion: June 22, 2020
• Study Completion: June 22, 2020
• Last Updated: February 28, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)