Anxiety Disorders, Depression, PTSD
Conditions
Keywords
Attention Bias Modification, Eye-tracking, Randomized Control Trial
Brief summary
Military service in combat units entails exposure to traumatic events that require mental adjustment. To develop and efficiently apply attention bias modification interventions aimed at enhancing soldiers' mental resilience, it is essential to test the efficiency of such training programs in RCTs. The purpose of the current study is to examine the efficiency of a new attention eye-tracking-based training protocol, in comparison to an RT-based training protocol, and to a control group, in reducing risk for post-trauma symptoms in combat deployed soldiers.
Detailed description
Following the explanation to participants regarding the study process, those who give written consent to participate will be randomly placed into one of three groups: GCFT (N=180), ABMT (N=180), and a neutral control group - RT-based task (N=180). The study will include 3 measurement points: before attention training (in basic training before deployment), after attention training (in basic training camp, still before deployment), and after a combat deployment cycle (6-12 months - to be determined based on the military deployment mission of the participants). In each measurement point, the participants will complete computerized tasks to measure attention and will complete self-report questionnaires.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALGaze-Contingent Feedback Training
Feedback according to participants' viewing patterns, in order to modify their attention toward threat stimuli.
BEHAVIORALAttention Bias Modification
Attention training via repeated trials of a dot-probe task intended to direct attention toward threat stimuli using threat and neutral face stimuli.
BEHAVIORALNeutral Control
Dot-probe task using only neutral stimuli with no training toward threat
Sponsors
Tel Aviv University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Intervention model description
Parallel random assignment to 3 arms in 1:1:1 ratio.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Each soldier from the allocated cohort who gives written consent will be able to participate in the study.
Exclusion criteria
* Hebrew proficiency is insufficient to complete the study questionnaires.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Post-Combat PTSD Symptoms | Change from baseline Post-Combat PTSD Symptoms at approximately 1.5 years | Score on on self-report questionnaire Posttraumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). The total score, ranging from 0 to 80, reflects PTSD symptom severity, with higher scores representing greater severity. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Post-Combat General Anxiety | Change from baseline Post-Combat General Anxiety Symptoms at approximately 1.5 years | Score on self-report questionnaire Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7). The total score, ranging from 0 to 21, reflects GAD symptom severity, with higher scores representing greater severity. |
| Post-Combat Depression | Change from baseline Post-Combat Depression Symptoms at approximately 1.5 years | Score on self-report Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). The total score, ranging from 0-27, reflects severity of depressive symptoms, with higher scores representing greater severity |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Post-Training RT-based Attention Bias toward threat | Change from baseline Attention Bias within 6 months of baseline measurement | Change in Attention Bias will be assessed with a response-time based dot-probe task. |
| Post-Training Subjective Attention Bias toward threat | Change from baseline Attention Bias within 6 months of baseline measurement | Change in Subjective Attention Bias will be assessed with a self-reported attention bias using the Attention Bias Questionnaire (ABQ). The total score, ranging from 0 to 36, represents threat-related attention bias, with higher scores representing greater bias toward threat. |
| Post-Training Eye-tracking Attention Bias toward threat | Change from baseline Attention Bias within 6 months of baseline measurement | Change in Attention Bias will also be assessed with an eye-tracking task. |
Countries
Israel
Outcome results
None listed