The aim of the present study is to examine whether the positive interpretive training has an therapeutic effect in patients with an anxiety disorder.
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Anxiety disorders and symptoms
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
1) It is hypothesised that the positive interpretive training is effective in
affecting existing tendencies to interpret ambiguous information negatively.
After training, the experimental and control group will differ in their
interpretation of ambiguous information. As opposed to the control group, the
experimental group will give more positive interpretations and less negative
interpretations.
2) if hypothesis 1) is confirmed, then the second hypothesis is that mood and
general psychological functioning will remain relatively stable in the control
group and will improve in the experimental group. More specifically, level of
anxiety, depression, and general dysfunctioning will decrease and positive mood
will increase in the experimental group compared to the control group.
Secondary outcome
n.v.t.
Background summary
Anxiety is associated with information processing biases that operate to favor
the processing of emotionally negative information. Recent studies gave
evidence for a causal link: biased information processing influences mood.
Participants who had developed a tendency to interpret positively after
training became less anxious and participants who were trained to interpret
negatively became more anxious. As a next step, it was examined whether
existing negative interpretative biases could be changed in individuals with a
sub-clinical level of anxiety. Anxious individuals were subjected to an
internet training program to interpret ambiguous information positively.
Results indicated that the training procedure was effective in influencing
interpretive style. More importantly, participants in the positive training
group became less anxious and also their level of complaints (SCL-90)
decreased.
Study objective
The aim of the present study is to examine whether the positive interpretive
training has an therapeutic effect in patients with an anxiety disorder.
Study design
The study has an experimental design; interpretive bias will be manipulated and
effects on mood and general psychological functioning will be examined.
Participants will be, at random, allocated to a training condition; 1) an
experimental condition, participants will receive the positive interpretive
training and 2) a control condition, participants will receive the training
without the crucial effective component.
Intervention
The training consists of eight internet-based sessions. During training,
participants will learn to interpret ambiguous social information positively
(or partly positive and partly negative, depending on the assigned condition).
Before as well as after the eight sessions training some questionnaires will be
presented.
Study burden and risks
There are no risks associated with the present study and the burden is minimal.
All tests are in writing and can be done at home. We consider the study as
justifiable in view of the minimal burden and absence of risks. The group of
participants is of course a vulnerable group and we take that into account. The
questionnaires are filled out in the presence of a psychologist and in
addition, a psychologist and indepedent physician are approachable during the
training.
Heidelberglaan 1
3584 CS Utrecht
Nederland
Heidelberglaan 1
3584 CS Utrecht
Nederland
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
- panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia (PD)
- social phobia (SP)
- generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
- posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- depression, with a secundair anxiety disorder
-need to have internet access at home
- Dutch as their first language
Exclusion criteria
-specific phobia
-obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
-substance-induced anxiety disorder
-comorbid psychotic disorder or substance-related disorder
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL12671.041.06 |