Enhancing Transdiagnostic Mechanisms of Cognitive Dyscontrol
University of California, San Diego
Summary
The proposed project aims to test the cognitive and neural effects of a cognitive training in a sample of individuals seeking treatment for anxiety, depression, or traumatic stress symptoms. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group 1 will receive a computer-based program that is designed as a cognitive training intervention and Group 2 will receive a similar computer-based exercise that researchers think will be less effective in training thinking skills (also known as a control or sham condition). Participants will be compared on cognitive performance and brain response during cognitive tasks from baseline to post-treatment.
Description
Mood, anxiety, and traumatic stress disorders are common psychiatric conditions - affecting over 40 million U.S. adults - and are leading causes of disability worldwide. People with these conditions are commonly plagued by difficulty controlling distressing personal thoughts and memories, collectively referred to as repetitive negative thinking symptoms. Models suggest that repetitive negative thinking is driven by executive functioning deficits, such that cognitive resources are insufficient to downregulate unwanted thoughts. Executive functioning deficits could be a promising treatment targe…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 21–55 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * age 21-55 * fluent in English * diagnosis of mood, anxiety, or traumatic stress disorder * clinically elevated repetitive negative thinking * outpatient status * 6-week stability if taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications Exclusion Criteria: * past year diagnosis of severe alcohol or moderate or greater substance use disorder * lifetime history of psychotic or bipolar I disorder * acute suicidality necessitating immediate clinical intervention * neurodegenerative or neurodevelopmental disorders * history of moderate or severe traumatic brain in…
Interventions
- BehavioralCOGENT
COGENT is based on a working memory capacity task, which requires individuals to memorize stimuli while simultaneously completing a secondary puzzle task.
- OtherSham Program
The Sham Program will be a similar task which researchers think will be less effective in training thinking skills.
Location
- UC San DiegoSan Diego, California