Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Conditions
Keywords
High OCI-R scores
Brief summary
This experiment will examine if the use of computerized tasks that train individuals to control their attention more effectively will predict individual differences in obsessive-compulsive symptoms, rumination and BDNF change. After giving consent, filling out self-report forms, and giving blood for the BDNF test, 80 participants will be randomized to Cognitive Control Training (CCT) or Peripheral Vision Task (PVT) (described below) which will be administered three times over a two week period. At the third visit, participants will also complete an anagram task and repeat the blood draw for BDNF testing. The investigators hypothesize that computerized tasks that train individuals to control their attention more effectively will reduce Obsessive Compulsive (OC) symptoms. Additionally, individuals training in CCT will show increased ability to disengage from unattainable goals as assessed by responses to an unsolvable anagram task. Finally, individuals training in CCT will show a greater increase in BDNF levels as compared to individuals training in PVT.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALCognitive Control Training
Pace Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT;(Gronwall, 1977): A computer version of the PASAT will be used to measure sustained attention and working memory. Participants are asked to add serially presented numbers. Attention Control Intervention (Wells, 2000): This task involves training individuals to attend differentially to multiple auditory sources (e.g., by counting tones, discriminating the location of tones, and moving their attention between auditory sources for a prolonged period).
BEHAVIORALPeripheral Vision Task
Peripheral Vision Task (PVT; C. Moore, personal communication): This task serves as a non-active control condition which does not target the brain regions influenced by the Wells and PASAT tasks. Participants focus on the placement of dots on a computer screen in this task while listening to a tone.
Sponsors
Boston University Charles River Campus
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Adults ages 18-65 years * OCI-R total score ≥ 16 * Ability to read and provide informed consent. * Familiarity with a computer keyboard and mouse.
Exclusion criteria
* BDI-II suicidality score of \> 1
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| OCI-R scores | up to two weeks | 3 times over a two week period |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| BDNF serum levels | up to two weeks | Two times over a two week period |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed