Impact of Cognitive Control Training on Anger Symptoms and Reactive Aggression

Toronto Metropolitan University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Anger

Treatments: Behavioral: Cognitive Control Training; Behavioral: Sham Cognitive Control Training Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03684031

Anger Study 2

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 50 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

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.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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50 participants in 2 patient groups

Cognitive Control Training

Experimental group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive Control Training

Sham Cognitive Control Training Program

Sham Comparator group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Sham Cognitive Control Training Program