AngerNCT03683979
The Impact of Interpretation Bias Modification Training on Anger and Reactive Aggression
A study testing Interpretation Bias Modification in people with Anger, run by Toronto Metropolitan University at 1 site in Canada.
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Anger
- What is being tested?
- Interpretation Bias Modification
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 47 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 12 Sep 2019to 13 Mar 2020
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 1. Students scoring 22 or higher on the Trait Anger Scale.
Who cannot join
- Reports currently receiving psychological treatment or counseling for anger.
- Reports changes in psychiatric medication within the last month.
- Endorsement of current psychosis or bipolar disorder symptoms.
- Indicates poor English language proficiency.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
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
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.
Read the 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.
- Conditions
- Anger
- Being tested
- Interpretation Bias Modification, Control Training Program
- Keywords
- Reactive aggression, High trait anger, Cognitive bias modification, Interpretation bias modification
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Interpretation Bias ModificationBehavioural
A computer based interpretation bias modification program that aims to reinforce neutral interpretations of ambiguous social situations.
Control Training ProgramBehavioural
A sham training program that is similar in design and delivery to the experimental training condition.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Interpretation bias modification program | Experimental | Participants in this arm will complete a computer-based training program two times in the lab. Participants will complete the first training session in the lab during their initial visit and they will return to the lab one week later to complete the second session. Receives: Behavioral: Interpretation Bias Modification |
| Control training program | Sham comparator | Participants in this arm will complete a sham training program two times in the lab. The program will look similar in length and design to the experimental training program, but the content of the program will remain affectively neutral. As in the experimental condition, participants will complete the first training session in the lab during their initial visit and they will return to the lab one week later to complete the second session. Receives: Behavioral: Control Training Program |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory 2nd Edition
A self-report measure of the experience of anger.
Measured: 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).
Interpretation Bias Assessment
A computer-based measure of hostile interpretation bias involving ambiguous social scenarios.
Measured: 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 (7)
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.
Measured: 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).
Social Information Processing-Attribution and Emotional Response Questionnaire
A self-report measure of evaluate social information processing biases associated with hostile attribution bias.
Measured: 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).
Word Sentence Association Paradigm-Hostility
A behavioural measure of hostile attribution biases involving hostile and non-hostile words.
Measured: 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).
Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale-21
A self-report measure of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. 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+).
Measured: 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).
Dot Probe
A behavioural measure of attentional bias towards angry faces.
Measured: 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).
Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire
A self-report measure of an individual's propensity for reactive aggression.
Measured: 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).
Taylor Aggression Paradigm
A behavioural measure of reactive aggression.
Measured: Administered one time over the course of one week. Participants will be exposed to the paradigm following the second training session.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Sep 2018
- Study start12 Sep 2019
- Primary completion13 Mar 2020
- Study completion13 Mar 2020
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for AngerStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 47 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Toronto Metropolitan University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Monique Tremblay, Toronto Metropolitan University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03683979
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Anger Study 1
- Status last verified
- Mar 2020
- First submitted
- 22 Sep 2018
- Last updated
- 24 Mar 2020
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: The results of this study will be disseminated through conference presentations and journal publications. Anonymized aggregate participant data may be made available upon request to a publishing journal or individual research group. However, research groups interested in accessing anonymized data will be required to submit a proposal detailing their intended use of the data. Their qualifications will be reviewed based on their proposal and CVs. Individual research groups approved for access will be required to agree to not attempt to re-identify participants, not further distribute data, and not use the data for purposes other than specified in their original proposal. No individual data will be shared.
Publications
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.
PubMed 23768674Wilkowski 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.
PubMed 18453470
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Mar 2020. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- 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
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03683979
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Anger Study 1
- Conditions
- Anger
- Keywords
- Reactive aggression, High trait anger, Cognitive bias modification, Interpretation bias modification
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 47 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Toronto Metropolitan UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 12 Sep 2019 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 13 Mar 2020 (actual)
- Study completion
- 13 Mar 2020 (actual)
- First posted
- 25 Sep 2018 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Interpretation bias modification program | Experimental | Behavioral: Interpretation Bias ModificationParticipants in this arm will complete a computer-based training program two times in the lab. Participants will complete the first training session in the lab during their initial visit and they will return to the lab one week later to complete the second session. |
| Control training program | Sham comparator | Behavioral: Control Training ProgramParticipants in this arm will complete a sham training program two times in the lab. The program will look similar in length and design to the experimental training program, but the content of the program will remain affectively neutral. As in the experimental condition, participants will complete the first training session in the lab during their initial visit and they will return to the lab one week later to complete the second session. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- 1. Students scoring 22 or higher on the Trait Anger Scale.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Reports currently receiving psychological treatment or counseling for anger.
- Reports changes in psychiatric medication within the last month.
- Endorsement of current psychosis or bipolar disorder symptoms.
- Indicates poor English language proficiency.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Interpretation Bias ModificationA computer based interpretation bias modification program that aims to reinforce neutral interpretations of ambiguous social situations. | Behavioural | Interpretation bias modification program |
| Control Training ProgramA sham training program that is similar in design and delivery to the experimental training condition. | Behavioural | Control training program |
Primary outcome
State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory 2nd Edition
Time frame: 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).
A self-report measure of the experience of anger.
Interpretation Bias Assessment
Time frame: 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).
A computer-based measure of hostile interpretation bias involving ambiguous social scenarios.
7 secondary outcomes
Anger Rumination Scale
Time frame: 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).
Social Information Processing-Attribution and Emotional Response Questionnaire
Time frame: 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).
Word Sentence Association Paradigm-Hostility
Time frame: 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).
Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale-21
Time frame: 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).
Dot Probe
Time frame: 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).
Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire
Time frame: 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).
Taylor Aggression Paradigm
Time frame: Administered one time over the course of one week. Participants will be exposed to the paradigm following the second training session.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 24 Mar 2020.
- Background: PubMed 23768674Hawkins 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.
- Background: PubMed 18453470Wilkowski 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.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. The results of this study will be disseminated through conference presentations and journal publications. Anonymized aggregate participant data may be made available upon request to a publishing journal or individual research group. However, research groups interested in accessing anonymized data will be required to submit a proposal detailing their intended use of the data. Their qualifications will be reviewed based on their proposal and CVs. Individual research groups approved for access will be required to agree to not attempt to re-identify participants, not further distribute data, and not use the data for purposes other than specified in their original proposal. No individual data will be shared.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Interpretation Bias Modification in people with Anger, run by Toronto Metropolitan University at 1 site in Canada.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Mar 2020. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory 2nd Edition (time frame: 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).). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03683979, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Mar 2020.