The Effectiveness of Cognitive Bias Modification on Intolerance of Uncertainty

Izmir University of Economics

Status: Completed

Conditions: Intolerance to Uncertainty

Treatments: Behavioral: Active Cognitive Bias Modification

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06174311

SGundogan

EYuvruk (Other Identifier)

YMeralOgutcu (Other Identifier)

CGokdag (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The current study aims to reduce the intolerance of uncertainty levels with an internet-based cognitive bias modification intervention in young adults with high levels of intolerance to uncertainty aged between 18 and 40. Furthermore, it aims to examine the intervention's effectiveness on their intolerance to uncertainty, positive and negative emotions, depression and anxiety symptoms, and repetitive thinking.

Full description

Intolerance of uncertainty, a common factor in mental disorders (playing a transdiagnostic role), is critical to the development and maintenance of emotional problems (e.g., depression and anxiety) as it disrupts people's daily functioning. Studies have shown that intolerance of uncertainty is closely related to psychological problems, highlighting its importance for psychological interventions. Particularly considering the transdiagnostic nature of intolerance of uncertainty, attempting to reduce this trait in individuals also provides further intervention opportunities for various problems. Therefore, reducing intolerance of uncertainty is the focus of psychotherapy studies. The cognitive-behavioral conceptualization of intolerance of uncertainty emphasizes that people are unable to tolerate uncertainty because they misinterpret ambiguous situations in a biased manner, which leads to psychological problems. Accordingly, intervening in intolerance of uncertainty involves the modification of one's biased interpretations. At this point, Cognitive bias modification (CBM) is a method that involves paradigms in which a person is exposed to a series of stimuli to alter and reduce cognitive biases related to psychopathology. In recent years, the effectiveness of CBM in different psychological problems has been proven. In addition, current studies aim to reduce psychological symptoms through the use of CBM targeting transdiagnostic features and have shown promising results. Despite the importance of intolerance of uncertainty, only one study was found in the literature that examined the effect of CBM on intolerance to uncertainty in a randomized controlled design. In that study, it was concluded that a single-session CBM was successful in reducing intolerance to uncertainty by reducing interpretation biases in individuals. However, the study has some methodological shortcomings and requires further investigation in different samples. From this point of view, the present project aims to investigate the effectiveness of CBM on intolerance of uncertainty. The proposed project will examine the effect of internet-based CBM, focusing on interpretation bias related to uncertainty, on reducing intolerance of uncertainty and general psychological symptoms using self-report and behavioral measures in a randomized controlled design. In this way, the project aims to make a scientific contribution to the relatively limited literature in this area and to reduce participants' emotional symptoms by reducing their intolerance of uncertainty.

Enrollment: 90 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Participants' willingness to participate in the CBM-I (Cognitive Bias Modification - Intervention)
• Having high levels of intolerance of uncertainty (receiving scores higher than the median of the initial sample by splitting the data based on the median)
• Having computer and internet access.

Exclusion criteria

• Being outside the targeted age range
• Having a psychiatric diagnosis and receiving current treatment
• Scoring psychotic questions and suicide questions above the midpoint on the Brief Symptom Scale
• Having color-blindness

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

---

90 participants in 2 patient groups

Active Cognitive Bias Modification

Experimental group

Description:

Based on the outcomes of pre-intervention measurements, 50 participants who score high on intolerance to uncertainty measurement will be chosen randomly to be included in this condition. This group of participants will receive three interventions targeting interpretation biases related to uncertainty, with each intervention administered at three-day intervals. Each session is scheduled to have an estimated duration of around 30 minutes.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Active Cognitive Bias Modification

Control (Waitlist) Cognitive Bias Modification

No Intervention group

Description:

The waitlist control group will not receive any interventions during the process. They will only undergo pre-test, post-test, and follow-up measurements. If they still wish to receive the intervention, it will be provided to them after the follow-up assessment.