Intrusive Reexperiencing: The Role of Working Memory Capacity and Thought Suppression

NCT ID: NCT01007682

Last Updated: 2012-03-08

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

200 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2009-09-30

Study Completion Date

2011-10-31

Brief Summary

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This study aims at identifying risk factors for the development of intrusive reexperiencing symptoms. In particular, the investigators examine the influence of working memory capacity and thought suppression on the occurrence of unpleasant memories of a negative experience.

Hypothesis: People with high working memory capacities (HWMC) are able to successfully suppress memories of an unpleasant experience (presentation of a distressing movie). In contrast, in people with low working memory capacities (LWMC), attempts to suppress memories of an unpleasant experience inadvertently lead to an increase of these memories.

Study phase one: Assessment of working memory capacity in 200 healthy participants by means of a computerized task. Selection of 50 participants with HWMC and of 50 participants with LWMC who participate in study phase two.

Study phase two: Presentation of a distressing movie and subsequent assessment of memories of the movie during several days in the daily life of participants. Comparison of 4 groups regarding the frequency of instructions in daily life:(group 1: HWMC participants who are instructed to suppress thoughts of the movie, group 2: LWMC participants who are instructed to suppress thoughts of the movie, group 3: HWMC participants who are instructed to allow the occurence of thoughts of the movie, group 4: LWMC participants who are instructed to allow the occurence of thoughts of the movie)

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Memory

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

FACTORIAL

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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Screening for working memory capacity

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Distressing movie

A distressing movie is presented to two groups (one group with high and one group with low working memory capacity). For each of the two groups, half of the participants are instructed to suppress thoughts of the movies after viewing it, while the remaining participants are instructed to allow the occurrence of memories of the movie.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Show distressing movie and tell half of the two study groups to suppress memories of the movie

Intervention Type OTHER

A distressing movie is presented to two groups (one group with high and one group with low working memory capacity). For each of the two groups, half of the participants are instructed to suppress thoughts of the movies after viewing it, while the remaining participants are instructed to allow the occurrence of memories of the movie.

Interventions

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Show distressing movie and tell half of the two study groups to suppress memories of the movie

A distressing movie is presented to two groups (one group with high and one group with low working memory capacity). For each of the two groups, half of the participants are instructed to suppress thoughts of the movies after viewing it, while the remaining participants are instructed to allow the occurrence of memories of the movie.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Older than 17 years

Exclusion Criteria

* Insufficient knowledge of the German language, for the distressing movie arm of the study: Elevated levels of depression or posttraumatic stress symptoms prior to viewing of the distressing movie
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Monique C Pfaltz, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Harvard University, Department of Pysychology

Jürgen Margraf, Prof

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

University of Basel, Department for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy

Locations

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Harvard University, Department of Psychology

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Other Identifiers

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192/09

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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