Clinical trial NCT05306197: Improving Performance of Combat Soldiers by Utilizing Attentional Training Based on Eye Tracking
Official title: Improving Performance of Combat Soldiers by Utilizing Attentional Training Based on Eye Tracking - Improvement of Combat Performance
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: TERMINATED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Military Combat Performance
Keywords: Attention Bias Modification
Randomized Control Trial
Eye-tracking
Lead sponsor: Tel Aviv University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2022-04-01
Enrollment: 79
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: OTHER

Brief summary: Military service in combat units entails exposure to traumatic events that require mental adjustment. To develop and efficiently apply attentional interventions aimed at enhancing soldiers' combat performance, it is essential to extensively investigate the efficiency of these training programs, which has yet to been done. The prupose of the current study is to examine the efficiency of the new attention eye-tracking based training, in comparison to RT-based training and to a control group, in improving performance of combat soldiers. In addition, the influence of the attention training on aspects of psychological resilience will also be examined in questionnaires.

Detailed description: Following the explanation to participants regarding the study process, those who give written consent to participate will be randomly placed into one of three groups: GCFT (N=60), ABMT (N=60), and a neutral control group - task based on eye-tracking (N=60). The study will include 2 measurement points during the military service: before the attention training and after the attention training. In each measurement point, the soldiers will complete computerized tasks to measure threat attention, questionnaires, and performance data from shooting ranges and combat fitness.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Each soldier from the cohort that will give his written consent will be able to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Hebrew proficiency is insufficient to complete the study questionnaires.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in Combat Performance
timeFrame: Approximately 3 months after baseline
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Post-Combat Trauma
timeFrame: Change from baseline Post-Combat PTSD Symptoms at approximately 3 months
measure: Post-Combat General Anxiety
timeFrame: Change from baseline Post-Combat General Anxiety Symptoms at approximately 3 months
measure: Post-Combat Depression
timeFrame: Change from baseline Post-Combat Depression Symptoms at approximately 3 months
Other outcomes:
measure: Post-Training RT-based Attention Bias toward threat
timeFrame: Change from baseline Attention Bias within 3 months of baseline measurement
measure: Post-Training Subjective Attention Bias toward threat
timeFrame: Change from baseline Attention Bias within 3 months of baseline measurement
measure: Post-Training Eye-tracking Attention Bias toward threat
timeFrame: Change from baseline Attention Bias within 3 months of baseline measurement
Locations:
city: Tel Aviv
country: Israel
facility: Tel Aviv University
Study officials:
affiliation: Tel Aviv University
name: Yair Bar-Haim, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Wald I, Fruchter E, Ginat K, Stolin E, Dagan D, Bliese PD, Quartana PJ, Sipos ML, Pine DS, Bar-Haim Y. Selective prevention of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder using attention bias modification training: a randomized controlled trial. Psychol Med. 2016 Sep;46(12):2627-36. doi: 10.1017/S0033291716000945. Epub 2016 Jul 5.