Clinical trial NCT03684031: Impact of Cognitive Control Training on Anger Symptoms and Reactive Aggression
Official title: Impact of Cognitive Control Training on Anger Symptoms and Reactive Aggression (Anger Study)
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Anger
Keywords: Reactive Aggression
Anger
Cognitive Control Training
Anger Rumination
Lead sponsor: Toronto Metropolitan University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2018-09-25
Enrollment: 50
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: High trait anger is a personality construct characterized by elevations in the frequency, duration, and intensity of anger episodes. According to many social cognitive theories, hostile interpretations of everyday situations contribute to the development and maintenance of anger symptoms. This study will examine the effectiveness of a computer-based cognitive control training task.

Detailed description: 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. According to the Integrative Cognitive Model of Anger and Reactive Aggression (ICM), three cognitive processes jointly contribute to the experience of high trait anger and reactive aggression: 1) hostile interpretation biases; 2) cognitive control; and 3) anger rumination. The proposed study will evaluate the validity of this model in relation to cognitive control using a computer-based cognitive control training (CCT) program.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Score of 22 or higher on the Trait Anger Scale.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Reports currently receiving psychological treatment or counseling for anger management difficulties.
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.
5. Reports clinically significant suicidal ideation, intent, or plan.

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 CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT training program)
measure: Computer-based cognitive control assessment
timeFrame: Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT 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 CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT training program)
measure: Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21)
timeFrame: Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT training program)
measure: Dot probe task
timeFrame: Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT training program)
measure: Adult Temperament Questionnaire (Effortful Control section)
timeFrame: Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT 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 CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT 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: 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.