The Social Regulation of Threat-related Vigilance and Arousal

University of Nevada, Reno

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Social Interaction; Hypervigilance; Emotion Regulation; Discrimination, Racial; Anxiety; Psychological Trauma, Historical

Treatments: Behavioral: social support

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05558527

1883993-2

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will examine the effects of social support on threat vigilance and arousal using eye tracking. We will also test the moderating effects of trauma and discrimination history.

Full description

Both interpersonal trauma (IPT) and ethno-racial discrimination amplify risk for hyper-arousal symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the mechanism of this effect is unclear. Prior research suggests that social support plays an important role in regulating emotional responses, a process called social emotion regulation. This study will test whether a history of IPT and/or ethno-racial discrimination influence the social regulation of arousal and vigilance. Social regulation will be tested by contrasting responses under conditions with and without social support.

Enrollment: 45 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• In a stable romantic relationship for 6 months or more
• Normal vision or corrected-to-normal vision
• Fluent in English

Exclusion criteria

• If vision is corrected-to-normal, needs to use hard contact lenses, bifocal contact lenses, or glasses
• Experienced a traumatic event within the past 4 weeks

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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45 participants in 3 patient groups

Social support from a romantic partner

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will hold the hand of their romantic partner

Treatment:

Behavioral: social support

Social support from a stranger

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will hold the hand of a stranger

Treatment:

Behavioral: social support

No social support

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants will hold a stress ball