Anger
Conditions
Keywords
Reactive Aggression, Anger, Cognitive Control Training, Anger Rumination
Brief summary
High trait anger is a personality construct characterized by elevations in the frequency, duration, and intensity of anger episodes. According to many social cognitive theories, hostile interpretations of everyday situations contribute to the development and maintenance of anger symptoms. This study will examine the effectiveness of a computer-based cognitive control training task.
Detailed description
Difficulties with anger control are reported in a number of psychological conditions and are associated with social problems, such as dating violence and workplace violence. High trait anger is a personality construct characterized by elevations in the frequency, duration, and intensity of anger episodes. However, the cognitive processes contributing to high trait anger are still poorly understood. According to the Integrative Cognitive Model of Anger and Reactive Aggression (ICM), three cognitive processes jointly contribute to the experience of high trait anger and reactive aggression: 1) hostile interpretation biases; 2) cognitive control; and 3) anger rumination. The proposed study will evaluate the validity of this model in relation to cognitive control using a computer-based cognitive control training (CCT) program.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALCognitive Control Training
A computer-based flanker task that aims to reinforce the recruitment of cognitive control in the presence of hostile/aggressive stimuli.
BEHAVIORALSham Cognitive Control Training Program
A placebo version of the computer-based cognitive control training. Designed to appear similar to the experimental task, but will not reinforce the recruitment of cognitive control in the presence of hostile/aggressive stimuli.
Sponsors
Toronto Metropolitan University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1\. Score of 22 or higher on the Trait Anger Scale.
Exclusion criteria
1. Reports currently receiving psychological treatment or counseling for anger management difficulties. 2. Reports changes in psychiatric medication within the last month. 3. Endorsement of current psychosis or bipolar disorder symptoms. 4. Indicates poor English language proficiency. 5. Reports clinically significant suicidal ideation, intent, or plan.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory 2nd Edition | Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT training program) | A self-report measure of the experience of anger. |
| Computer-based cognitive control assessment | Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT training program) | A behavioural measure of hostility-primed cognitive control involving aggressive and neutral words. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dot probe task | Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT training program) | A behavioural measure of attentional bias towards angry faces. |
| Adult Temperament Questionnaire (Effortful Control section) | Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT training program) | A self-report measure of one's ability to suppress inappropriate approach behavior, to perform an action when there is a strong tendency to avoid it, and to shift or focus behaviour. |
| Anger Rumination Scale | Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT training program) | A self-report measure of the degree to individuals focus on experiences with anger. The scale is comprised of four subscales, angry after thoughts (e.g., Whenever I experience anger, I keep thinking about it for a while), angry memories (e.g., I re-enact the anger episode in my mind after it has happened), understanding causes (e.g., When someone provokes me, I keep wondering why this should have happened to me), and thoughts of revenge (e.g. I have difficulty forgiving people who have hurt me.). Participants will be asked to read each item and rate it in terms of how well it reflects their experience on a 4-point scale from 1 (almost never) to 4 (almost always). Totals for each sub scale will be summed to produce a total score (range: 19-76), with higher scores indicating a greater propensity for rumination. |
| Taylor Aggression Paradigm | Administered one time over the course of one week. Participants will be exposed to the paradigm following the second training session.] | A behavioural measure of reactive aggression. |
| Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire | Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT training program) | A self-report measure of an individual's propensity for reactive aggression. |
| Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) | Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT training program) | A self-report measure of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms.Items are summed for each subscale to create subscale totals (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress), with higher scores reflecting more severe emotional distress. Symptom score ranges include: normal (0-4), mild (5-6), moderate (7-10), severe (11-13), and extremely severe (14+). |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed