Trial Outcomes & Findings for Attention Bias Modification Training for Young People (NCT NCT02270671)

NCT ID: NCT02270671

Last Updated: 2018-11-20

Results Overview

The bias measurement protocol consists of 120 trials (80 angry-neutral and 40 neutral-neutral presentations). Angry face location, probe location, probe type and actor are all fully counterbalanced in presentation. The participant must perform with more than 70% accuracy on the first 10 trials.The threat bias measurement consisted of 120 trials of the dot-probe task, 80 of which contained angry-neutral face pairs and 40 of which contained neutral-neutral face pairs. The threat bias score equal the mean of neutral NT trials minus mean of threat NT trials. A threat bias scores \>0 indicate a bias towards threat, whereas scores \<0 mean that the participant is slower to respond to threatening stimuli than neutral stimuli. Reaction times were measured in milliseconds.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

130 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Post-intervention (week 4), and 12-week follow-up

Results posted on

2018-11-20

Participant Flow

Approximately 2,900 students were invited to take part through Irish second-level schools. N=545 provided assent and parental consent. N=12 were excluded based on exclusion criteria and N=36 were absent for screening. N=497 completed screening of which N=130 met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected between September 2014 and May 2015.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Placebo
The placebo protocol consists of 160 trials (120 angry-neutral face pair and 40 neutral-neutral face pair presentations). In this condition, angry-face location, probe location and actor are fully counterbalanced in presentation. A short break is delivered every 40 trials (1 block). An accuracy of 70% or above for each block is necessary to continue training. The task takes 7 minutes. Placebo: Placebo Training
Intervention
The attention bias modification training (ABMT) protocol consists of 160 trials (120 angry-neutral face pair presentations and 40 neutral-neutral face pair presentations). In the ABM condition, the target-probe appears at the neutral-face locations in all angry-neutral trials. A short break is delivered every 40 trials (1 block). An accuracy of 70% or above for each block is necessary to continue training. The task takes 7 minutes. ABMT: Attention Bias Modification Training
Overall Study
STARTED
64
66
Overall Study
COMPLETED
59
61
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
5
5

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Placebo
The placebo protocol consists of 160 trials (120 angry-neutral face pair and 40 neutral-neutral face pair presentations). In this condition, angry-face location, probe location and actor are fully counterbalanced in presentation. A short break is delivered every 40 trials (1 block). An accuracy of 70% or above for each block is necessary to continue training. The task takes 7 minutes. Placebo: Placebo Training
Intervention
The attention bias modification training (ABMT) protocol consists of 160 trials (120 angry-neutral face pair presentations and 40 neutral-neutral face pair presentations). In the ABM condition, the target-probe appears at the neutral-face locations in all angry-neutral trials. A short break is delivered every 40 trials (1 block). An accuracy of 70% or above for each block is necessary to continue training. The task takes 7 minutes. ABMT: Attention Bias Modification Training
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
1
1
Overall Study
Protocol Violation
0
1
Overall Study
Missed Post-intervention Data Collection
2
2
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
2
1

Baseline Characteristics

Attention Bias Modification Training for Young People

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Placebo
n=59 Participants
The placebo protocol consists of 160 trials (120 angry-neutral face pair and 40 neutral-neutral face pair presentations). In this condition, angry-face location, probe location and actor are fully counterbalanced in presentation. A short break is delivered every 40 trials (1 block). An accuracy of 70% or above for each block is necessary to continue training. The task takes 7 minutes. Placebo: Placebo Training
Intervention
n=61 Participants
The attention bias modification training (ABMT) protocol consists of 160 trials (120 angry-neutral face pair presentations and 40 neutral-neutral face pair presentations). In the ABM condition, the target-probe appears at the neutral-face locations in all angry-neutral trials. A short break is delivered every 40 trials (1 block). An accuracy of 70% or above for each block is necessary to continue training. The task takes 7 minutes. ABMT: Attention Bias Modification Training
Total
n=120 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
59 Participants
n=5 Participants
61 Participants
n=7 Participants
120 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Continuous
15.97 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION .74 • n=5 Participants
15.93 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION .68 • n=7 Participants
15.95 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION .71 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
36 Participants
n=5 Participants
34 Participants
n=7 Participants
70 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
23 Participants
n=5 Participants
27 Participants
n=7 Participants
50 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
Ireland
59 participants
n=5 Participants
61 participants
n=7 Participants
120 participants
n=5 Participants
Previously Used Mental Health Services
Yes
13 participants
n=5 Participants
8 participants
n=7 Participants
21 participants
n=5 Participants
Previously Used Mental Health Services
No
46 participants
n=5 Participants
53 participants
n=7 Participants
99 participants
n=5 Participants
Threat Bias Measurement
4.01 milliseconds
STANDARD_DEVIATION 28.35 • n=5 Participants
-.06 milliseconds
STANDARD_DEVIATION 19.03 • n=7 Participants
1.94 milliseconds
STANDARD_DEVIATION 24.05 • n=5 Participants
Social Phobia and Anxiety
29.15 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.47 • n=5 Participants
31.49 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.53 • n=7 Participants
30.34 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.56 • n=5 Participants
Fear of Negative Evaluation
31.29 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.38 • n=5 Participants
31.80 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.67 • n=7 Participants
31.55 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.99 • n=5 Participants
Anxiety Related Disorders
36.05 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.31 • n=5 Participants
39.46 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.81 • n=7 Participants
37.78 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.15 • n=5 Participants
Depression Symptoms
11.64 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.99 • n=5 Participants
12.84 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.31 • n=7 Participants
12.25 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.69 • n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Post-intervention (week 4), and 12-week follow-up

The bias measurement protocol consists of 120 trials (80 angry-neutral and 40 neutral-neutral presentations). Angry face location, probe location, probe type and actor are all fully counterbalanced in presentation. The participant must perform with more than 70% accuracy on the first 10 trials.The threat bias measurement consisted of 120 trials of the dot-probe task, 80 of which contained angry-neutral face pairs and 40 of which contained neutral-neutral face pairs. The threat bias score equal the mean of neutral NT trials minus mean of threat NT trials. A threat bias scores \>0 indicate a bias towards threat, whereas scores \<0 mean that the participant is slower to respond to threatening stimuli than neutral stimuli. Reaction times were measured in milliseconds.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Placebo
n=59 Participants
The placebo protocol consists of 160 trials (120 angry-neutral face pair and 40 neutral-neutral face pair presentations). In this condition, angry-face location, probe location and actor are fully counterbalanced in presentation. A short break is delivered every 40 trials (1 block). An accuracy of 70% or above for each block is necessary to continue training. The task takes 7 minutes. Placebo: Placebo Training
Intervention
n=61 Participants
The attention bias modification training (ABMT) protocol consists of 160 trials (120 angry-neutral face pair presentations and 40 neutral-neutral face pair presentations). In the ABM condition, the target-probe appears at the neutral-face locations in all angry-neutral trials. A short break is delivered every 40 trials (1 block). An accuracy of 70% or above for each block is necessary to continue training. The task takes 7 minutes. ABMT: Attention Bias Modification Training
Threat Bias Measurement at 4-week Post-intervention and 12-week Follow-up
Post-intervention
1.77 milliseconds
Standard Deviation 17.65
1.72 milliseconds
Standard Deviation 17.07
Threat Bias Measurement at 4-week Post-intervention and 12-week Follow-up
Follow-up
1.17 milliseconds
Standard Deviation 15.94
2.27 milliseconds
Standard Deviation 18.29

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Post-intervention (week 4), and 12-week follow-up

The Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAI-C)(Beidel et al., 1998, 2000) is a 26-item, self-report measure exploring anxiety in social situations. Responses are indicated using a 3-point Likert scale from 0 = never or hardly ever to 2 = most of the time or always with scores ranging from 0-52. Higher scores on the SPAI-C represent higher levels of social anxiety.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Placebo
n=59 Participants
The placebo protocol consists of 160 trials (120 angry-neutral face pair and 40 neutral-neutral face pair presentations). In this condition, angry-face location, probe location and actor are fully counterbalanced in presentation. A short break is delivered every 40 trials (1 block). An accuracy of 70% or above for each block is necessary to continue training. The task takes 7 minutes. Placebo: Placebo Training
Intervention
n=61 Participants
The attention bias modification training (ABMT) protocol consists of 160 trials (120 angry-neutral face pair presentations and 40 neutral-neutral face pair presentations). In the ABM condition, the target-probe appears at the neutral-face locations in all angry-neutral trials. A short break is delivered every 40 trials (1 block). An accuracy of 70% or above for each block is necessary to continue training. The task takes 7 minutes. ABMT: Attention Bias Modification Training
Social Phobia and Anxiety at 4-week Post-intervention and 12-week Follow-up
Post-intervention
29.24 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.89
30.67 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.22
Social Phobia and Anxiety at 4-week Post-intervention and 12-week Follow-up
Follow-up
27.12 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.89
29.74 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 9.10

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Post-intervention (week 4), and 12-week follow-up

A 12-item self-report questionnaire to measure fear of negative evaluation - Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Questionnaire -II (BFNE-II; Carleton et al., 2007). The BFNE-R (Carleton, McCreary, Norton, \& Asmundson, 2006) is a 12-item, revised version of the BFNE (Leary, 1983) used to elicit respondents' fear of negative evaluation. Responses are indicated using a 5-point Likert scale response format from 0 = not at all characteristics of me to 4 = entirely characteristic of me. Scores range from 0 to 48. Higher scores indicate higher fear of negative evaluation

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Placebo
n=59 Participants
The placebo protocol consists of 160 trials (120 angry-neutral face pair and 40 neutral-neutral face pair presentations). In this condition, angry-face location, probe location and actor are fully counterbalanced in presentation. A short break is delivered every 40 trials (1 block). An accuracy of 70% or above for each block is necessary to continue training. The task takes 7 minutes. Placebo: Placebo Training
Intervention
n=61 Participants
The attention bias modification training (ABMT) protocol consists of 160 trials (120 angry-neutral face pair presentations and 40 neutral-neutral face pair presentations). In the ABM condition, the target-probe appears at the neutral-face locations in all angry-neutral trials. A short break is delivered every 40 trials (1 block). An accuracy of 70% or above for each block is necessary to continue training. The task takes 7 minutes. ABMT: Attention Bias Modification Training
Fear of Negative Evaluation at 4-week Post-Intervention and 12-week Follow-Up
Post-intervention
32.73 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 13.72
31.5 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 10.88
Fear of Negative Evaluation at 4-week Post-Intervention and 12-week Follow-Up
Follow-up
31.36 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 11.83
30.6 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 11.21

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Post-intervention (week 4), and 12-week follow-up

The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED)(Birmaher et al., 1997) is a 41-item measure which has five subscales. Responses use a 3-point Likert scale, 0 = not true, or hardly ever true to 2 = very true or often true. The subscales are: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) (9 items, range 0-18); Panic Disorder (13 items, 0-26); Separation Anxiety Disorder (8 items, 0-16); and Social Phobia (7 items, 0-14), and School Avoidance (4 items, 0-8). Subscales are summed to provide a total score (range 0-82; while scores over 25 may be indicative of an anxiety disorder).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Placebo
n=59 Participants
The placebo protocol consists of 160 trials (120 angry-neutral face pair and 40 neutral-neutral face pair presentations). In this condition, angry-face location, probe location and actor are fully counterbalanced in presentation. A short break is delivered every 40 trials (1 block). An accuracy of 70% or above for each block is necessary to continue training. The task takes 7 minutes. Placebo: Placebo Training
Intervention
n=61 Participants
The attention bias modification training (ABMT) protocol consists of 160 trials (120 angry-neutral face pair presentations and 40 neutral-neutral face pair presentations). In the ABM condition, the target-probe appears at the neutral-face locations in all angry-neutral trials. A short break is delivered every 40 trials (1 block). An accuracy of 70% or above for each block is necessary to continue training. The task takes 7 minutes. ABMT: Attention Bias Modification Training
Anxiety Related Disorders at 4-week Post-intervention and 12-week Follow-up
Post-intervention
35.05 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 13.95
37.49 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 14.37
Anxiety Related Disorders at 4-week Post-intervention and 12-week Follow-up
Follow-up
33.71 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 14.78
35.41 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 14.59

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Post-intervention (week 4), and 12-week follow-up

The Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale - Major Depressive Disorder (RCADS-MDD). The major depressive disorder subscale of the RCADS (Chorpita, Yim, Moffitt, Umemoto, \& Francis, 2000) is a 10-item subscale exploring symptoms of MDD as characterised by the DSM-IV, with on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 0 = never to 3 = always. Scores range from 0 to 30. A score of 11 or higher has been shown to optimise sensitivity and specificity for the prediction of MDD (Ebesutani et al., 2012).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Placebo
n=59 Participants
The placebo protocol consists of 160 trials (120 angry-neutral face pair and 40 neutral-neutral face pair presentations). In this condition, angry-face location, probe location and actor are fully counterbalanced in presentation. A short break is delivered every 40 trials (1 block). An accuracy of 70% or above for each block is necessary to continue training. The task takes 7 minutes. Placebo: Placebo Training
Intervention
n=61 Participants
The attention bias modification training (ABMT) protocol consists of 160 trials (120 angry-neutral face pair presentations and 40 neutral-neutral face pair presentations). In the ABM condition, the target-probe appears at the neutral-face locations in all angry-neutral trials. A short break is delivered every 40 trials (1 block). An accuracy of 70% or above for each block is necessary to continue training. The task takes 7 minutes. ABMT: Attention Bias Modification Training
Depression Symptoms at 4-week Post-intervention and 12-week Follow-up
Post-intervention
12.71 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 6.23
13.30 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.78
Depression Symptoms at 4-week Post-intervention and 12-week Follow-up
Follow-up
11.88 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 6.86
12.57 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.76

Adverse Events

Placebo

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Intervention

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Dr Amanda Fitzgerald

University College Dublin

Phone: +35317168541

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place