Clinical trial NCT03683979: The Impact of Interpretation Bias Modification Training on Anger and Reactive Aggression
Official title: An Investigation of the Short-term Impact of Interpretation Bias Modification Training on Anger Symptoms, Reactive Aggression, and Attentional Biases Toward Anger-related Stimuli
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Anger
Keywords: Reactive aggression
High trait anger
Cognitive bias modification
Interpretation bias modification
Lead sponsor: Toronto Metropolitan University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2018-09-25
Enrollment: 47
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 65
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Difficulties with anger control are reported in a number of psychological conditions and are associated with social problems, such as dating violence and workplace violence. High trait anger is a personality construct characterized by elevations in the frequency, duration, and intensity of anger episodes. However, the cognitive processes contributing to high trait anger are still poorly understood. This study will examine the effectiveness of a computer-based cognitive bias modification (CBM) program designed to target hostile interpretations associated with high trait anger.

Detailed description: High trait anger is a personality construct characterized by elevations in the frequency, duration, and intensity of anger episodes. According to the Integrative Cognitive Model (ICM) of anger, three cognitive processes jointly contribute to an individual's level of trait anger and reactive aggression: hostile attributions, ruminative attention, and effortful control processes. Specifically, individuals high in trait anger are more prone to interpret ambiguous situations as hostile; are more likely to ruminate about anger-related events; and have a more limited capacity to employ control processes when they become angry.

One means of evaluating unconscious biases that has become increasingly popular is cognitive bias modification (CBM). CBM programs are computerized training paradigms, which aim to train more adaptive cognitive biases by repeatedly exposing participants to an experimental contingency between an emotional stimulus and a response.Previous researchers have begun to investigate the impact of CBMs targeting cognitive control and hostile attribution bias in relation to anger. However, these studies have been conducted exclusively in samples reporting low trait anger.

This study will examine the effectiveness of a short-term interpretation bias modification program (CBM-I) on hostile attribution biases and reactive aggression in a sample of undergraduate students eporting high trait anger.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Students scoring 22 or higher on the Trait Anger Scale.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Reports currently receiving psychological treatment or counseling for anger.
2. Reports changes in psychiatric medication within the last month.
3. Endorsement of current psychosis or bipolar disorder symptoms.
4. Indicates poor English language proficiency.

Primary outcomes:
measure: State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory 2nd Edition
timeFrame: Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CBM training program) to visit 2 (after CBM training program).
measure: Interpretation Bias Assessment
timeFrame: Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CBM training program) to visit 2 (after CBM training program).
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Anger Rumination Scale
timeFrame: Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CBM training program) to visit 2 (after CBM training program).
measure: Social Information Processing-Attribution and Emotional Response Questionnaire
timeFrame: Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CBM training program) to visit 2 (after CBM training program).
measure: Word Sentence Association Paradigm-Hostility
timeFrame: Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CBM training program) to visit 2 (after CBM training program).
measure: Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale-21
timeFrame: Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CBM training program) to visit 2 (after CBM training program).
measure: Dot Probe
timeFrame: Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CBM training program) to visit 2 (after CBM training program).
measure: Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire
timeFrame: Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CBM training program) to visit 2 (after CBM training program).
measure: Taylor Aggression Paradigm
timeFrame: Administered one time over the course of one week. Participants will be exposed to the paradigm following the second training session.
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Toronto
country: Canada
facility: Ryerson University
state: Ontario
Study officials:
References:
citation: Hawkins KA, Cougle JR. Effects of interpretation training on hostile attribution bias and reactivity to interpersonal insult. Behav Ther. 2013 Sep;44(3):479-88. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2013.04.005. Epub 2013 Apr 19.
citation: Wilkowski BM, Robinson MD. The cognitive basis of trait anger and reactive aggression: an integrative analysis. Pers Soc Psychol Rev. 2008 Feb;12(1):3-21. doi: 10.1177/1088868307309874. Epub 2007 Dec 18.