Stress and Anxiety Effects on Valuation

NCT ID: NCT07252947

Last Updated: 2025-12-22

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

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

200 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-12-18

Study Completion Date

2028-11-07

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to understand how stress, anxiety, and negative affect change learning and decision-making processes. The primary objective is to assess two forms of decision-making-reward adaptation and emotion prediction errors-differ as a function of stress and anxiety. The secondary objectives are to assess how individual differences measured in our studies relate to these decision variables.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Reward Value Level

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Aim 1: Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Task (SECPT)

Participants will be randomly assigned to complete the Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Task (SECPT). Cortisol samples will be collected throughout the study session. All participants will then complete a Food Value Task, during which they will view a series of reward stimuli (snack foods) over alternating task blocks.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Task (SECPT)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The SECPT is a validated laboratory stressor that combines physiological stress with social evaluative components; it is widely used to elicit acute stress responses in controlled settings. Participants are asked to submerge their nondominant hand into an ice-cold water (0-4°C) for 3 minutes, while videotaped and observed by one neutral-faced experimenter.

Aim 1: Non-Stressful Control Task

Participants will be randomly assigned to complete a non-stressful control task. Cortisol samples will be collected throughout the study session. All participants will then complete a Food Value Task, during which they will view a series of reward stimuli (snack foods) over alternating task blocks.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Non-Stressful Control Task

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants assigned to the warm water control condition will perform a non-evaluative task with warm water.

Aim 2: Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Task (SECPT)

Participants will be randomly assigned to complete the SECPT. Cortisol samples will be collected throughout the study session. Participants will then complete the Image Value Task, during which they will view a series of positive, negative or neutral images over alternating task blocks.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Task (SECPT)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The SECPT is a validated laboratory stressor that combines physiological stress with social evaluative components; it is widely used to elicit acute stress responses in controlled settings. Participants are asked to submerge their nondominant hand into an ice-cold water (0-4°C) for 3 minutes, while videotaped and observed by one neutral-faced experimenter.

Aim 2: Non-Stressful Control Task

Participants will be randomly assigned to complete a non-stressful control task. Cortisol samples will be collected throughout the study session. Participants will then complete the Image Value Task, during which they will view a series of positive, negative or neutral images over alternating task blocks.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Non-Stressful Control Task

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants assigned to the warm water control condition will perform a non-evaluative task with warm water.

Aim 3: Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Task (SECPT)

Participants will first complete demographic and self-report measures, followed by random assignment to complete the SECPT. Cortisol samples will be collected throughout the study session to measure neuroendocrine response to the stress/control task. Participants will then complete the Affective Prediction Error Task.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Task (SECPT)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The SECPT is a validated laboratory stressor that combines physiological stress with social evaluative components; it is widely used to elicit acute stress responses in controlled settings. Participants are asked to submerge their nondominant hand into an ice-cold water (0-4°C) for 3 minutes, while videotaped and observed by one neutral-faced experimenter.

Aim 3: Non-Stressful Control Task

Participants will be randomly assigned to complete a non-stressful control task. Cortisol samples will be collected throughout the study session. Participants will then complete the Affective Prediction Task.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Non-Stressful Control Task

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants assigned to the warm water control condition will perform a non-evaluative task with warm water.

Aim 4: Behavioral Task

Participants with a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) will complete a two-session behavioral task examining how clinical anxiety affects value and affective predictions.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Task (SECPT)

The SECPT is a validated laboratory stressor that combines physiological stress with social evaluative components; it is widely used to elicit acute stress responses in controlled settings. Participants are asked to submerge their nondominant hand into an ice-cold water (0-4°C) for 3 minutes, while videotaped and observed by one neutral-faced experimenter.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Non-Stressful Control Task

Participants assigned to the warm water control condition will perform a non-evaluative task with warm water.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

Aims 1-3: To be eligible for participation in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

* 18-65 years of age
* Able to speak, read, and write fluently in English
* Be willing and able to follow study procedures and provide informed consent.

Aim 4: To be eligible for participation in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

* 18-65 years of age
* Diagnosis of GAD
* Able to speak, read, and write fluently in English
* Be willing and able to follow study procedures and provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

Aims 1-3: Individuals will be excluded from participation if any of the following criteria are met:

* History of or medication for neurologic or psychiatric disease
* High-blood pressure or heart condition
* Diabetes, food allergies, metabolic disorders or history of eating disorder
* Use of corticosteroids or beta-blockers
* Pregnancy

Aim 4: Individuals will be excluded from participation if any of the following criteria are met:

* High-blood pressure or heart condition
* Diabetes, food allergies, metabolic disorders or history of eating disorder
* Use of corticosteroids or beta-blockers
* Lifetime history of bipolar disorder or any psychotic disorder; substance use disorder in past 3 months; eating disorder in past 6 months; current major depressive disorder (past is allowed)
* Active suicidal ideation with plan and intent (indicated by score \>=4 on the Columbia Suicide Severity Scale)
* Not on stable dose of psychiatric medication for at least 4 weeks prior to study participation
* Pregnancy
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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NYU Langone Health

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Candace Raio, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

NYU Langone Health

Locations

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NYU Langone Health

New York, New York, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Candace Raio, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 212-404-4223

Email: [email protected]

Ariana Wahab

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 212-404-3850

Email: [email protected]

Other Identifiers

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25-01195

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id