Neurobehavioral Affective Control Training

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY · Jan 17, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking to test a new program aimed at helping adults better manage their emotions. The program focuses on two main issues many people face: acting impulsively when feeling strong emotions and getting stuck in negative thought patterns, known as rumination. Participants will take part in eight weekly sessions over two months, where they will work with a coach on exercises designed to improve emotional control. Researchers will also check how acceptable and practical participants find the program, as well as how it impacts their overall mental health and daily functioning.

To be eligible for this study, participants must live in California and experience high levels of rumination or emotion-related impulsivity. People who have certain medical conditions, such as brain tumors or severe recent substance use issues, or those who have active thoughts of self-harm, will not be included. Participants can expect to complete assessments before and after the program, which include answering questionnaires and possibly doing some activities to evaluate their mental processing. There will also be a comparison group that waits two months before starting the program, allowing researchers to see how effective the training is.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Current residency in the state of California
• • Elevated levels of rumination and/or emotion-related impulsivity
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Insufficient English language literacy to understand study procedures (as assessed by self-report)
• • Careless or inattentive responding as indicated by (a) failing 50% or more of "attention check" items embedded in the online screening questionnaires, (b) overly rapid responding (i.e., mean response time of less than two seconds for multiple choice items), or (c) qualitative review of long strings of identical entries on screening/baseline questionnaire items that suggest data invalidity
• • Positive history of brain tumors, neurological disorders, or head injuries (with loss of consciousness more than five minutes and/or more than two separate instances of clinically-significant head trauma)
• • Recent (i.e., past three months) alcohol/other substance use disorders or current psychosis (as assessed by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview; MINI)
• • Active suicidal ideation paired with either (1) plan and/or intent or (2) lifetime history of suicide attempts (as assessed by the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale; C-SSRS)

Trial Officials