None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
PTSD is the most common psychological disorder in veterans, and while evidence-based treatments exist, much can be done to improve outcomes. The study is a pilot randomised-controlled-trial comparing two interventions in veterans with a diagnosis of PTSD before and after they receive standard hospital treatment. This study will test the efficacy of two types of attention training to augment standard treatment for veterans with a diagnosis of PTSD. Attention training is delivered via computer and involves participants viewing words on a screen and then pressing a corresponding button on the keyboard. The first task, ‘Attention Control Training’ (ACT) works by re-balancing attention, whilst 'Attention Bias Modification; (ABM) aims to decrease over-responding to threat stimuli. We want to investigate whether receiving either one of these attention training programs significantly improves mental health outcomes after receiving standard treatment.
Interventions
Attention control training (ACT)
In ACT, participants perform four computer-delivered attention training sessions, taking 7 minutes per training session, over a period of 4 weeks (once weekly). Attention training sessions are delivered in the hospital. In each session the dot-probe task is administered. The task consists of 128 trials. Each trial begins with a centrally-presented fixation cross that is then replaced by a pair of neutral and threat words. A target probe appears in the location p
Attention control training (ACT) In ACT, participants perform four computer-delivered attention training sessions, taking 7 minutes per training session, over a period of 4 weeks (once weekly). Attention training sessions are delivered in the hospital. In each session the dot-probe task is administered. The task consists of 128 trials. Each trial begins with a centrally-presented fixation cross that is then replaced by a pair of neutral and threat words. A target probe appears in the location previously occupied by one of the words, and participants are requested to discriminate the probe type via button press. In ACT, targets appear with equal probability at the location of threat and neutral stimuli, in order to modify the fluctuations in attention allocation. Reaction time duration and incorrect responses are reviewed post-hoc to assess adherence to the intervention.
Sponsors
Centenary of Anzac Centre, Phoenix Australia
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
An ex-serving member of the Australian Defence Force Have a diagnosis of PTSD, confirmed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) Eligible for participation and consented to participate in the Toowong Hospital Trauma Recovery Program (TRP)
Exclusion criteria
A currently serving member of ADF Unable to use a computer keyboard Unable or ineligible to participate in the Toowong TRP
Outcome results
None listed