Impact of Cognitive Control Training on Anger Symptoms and Reactive Aggression

Anger Clinical Trial

Official title:

Impact of Cognitive Control Training on Anger Symptoms and Reactive Aggression (Anger Study)

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03684031
• Other study ID #: Anger Study 2
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: April 30, 2019
• Est. completion date: March 13, 2020

Study information

• Verified date: March 2020
• Source: Ryerson University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial 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.

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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 50
• Est. completion date: March 13, 2020
• Est. primary completion date: March 13, 2020
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 65 Years

Eligibility

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.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Aggression
• Anger

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Cognitive Control Training
A computer-based flanker task that aims to reinforce the recruitment of cognitive control in the presence of hostile/aggressive stimuli.
• Sham Cognitive Control Training Program
A placebo version of the computer-based cognitive control training. Designed to appear similar to the experimental task, but will not reinforce the recruitment of cognitive control in the presence of hostile/aggressive stimuli.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Canada	Ryerson University	Toronto	Ontario

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Ryerson University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Canada, 

References & Publications (1)

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. Review. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory 2nd Edition	A self-report measure of the experience of anger.	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)
Primary	Computer-based cognitive control assessment	A behavioural measure of hostility-primed cognitive control involving aggressive and neutral words.	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	Anger Rumination Scale	A self-report measure of the degree to individuals focus on experiences with anger. The scale is comprised of four subscales, angry after thoughts (e.g., "Whenever I experience anger, I keep thinking about it for a while"), angry memories (e.g., "I re-enact the anger episode in my mind after it has happened"), understanding causes (e.g., "When someone provokes me, I keep wondering why this should have happened to me"), and thoughts of revenge (e.g. "I have difficulty forgiving people who have hurt me."). Participants will be asked to read each item and rate it in terms of how well it reflects their experience on a 4-point scale from 1 ("almost never") to 4 ("almost always"). Totals for each sub scale will be summed to produce a total score (range: 19-76), with higher scores indicating a greater propensity for rumination.	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	Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21)	A self-report measure of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms.Items are summed for each subscale to create subscale totals (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress), with higher scores reflecting more severe emotional distress. Symptom score ranges include: normal (0-4), mild (5-6), moderate (7-10), severe (11-13), and extremely severe (14+).	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	Dot probe task	A behavioural measure of attentional bias towards angry faces.	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	Adult Temperament Questionnaire (Effortful Control section)	A self-report measure of one's ability to suppress inappropriate approach behavior, to perform an action when there is a strong tendency to avoid it, and to shift or focus behaviour.	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	Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire	A self-report measure of an individual's propensity for reactive aggression.	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	Taylor Aggression Paradigm	A behavioural measure of reactive aggression.	Administered one time over the course of one week. Participants will be exposed to the paradigm following the second training session.]

External Links

•   Lab website