The Impact of Interpretation Bias Modification Training on Anger and Reactive Aggression

Toronto Metropolitan University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Anger

Treatments: Behavioral: Control Training Program; Behavioral: Interpretation Bias Modification

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03683979

Anger Study 1

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 47 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Students scoring 22 or higher on the Trait Anger Scale.

Exclusion criteria

1. Reports currently receiving psychological treatment or counseling for anger.
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.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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47 participants in 2 patient groups

Interpretation bias modification program

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: Interpretation Bias Modification

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: Control Training Program