The Role of Cognitive Control in the Transdiagnostic Conceptualization of "Intrusive Thoughts"
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Anxiety, Depression, Depression, Major Depression Disorder (MDD), Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology, Pulmonary / Respiratory Diseases |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - Any |
| Updated: | 9/20/2018 |
| Start Date: | May 18, 2018 |
| End Date: | September 30, 2019 |
| Contact: | Ryan J Jacoby, Ph.D. |
| Email: | rjjacoby@mgh.harvard.edu |
| Phone: | 617-724-4167 |
The investigators are examining whether difficulties with cognitive control (i.e., the
ability to stop one's thought process and shift attention) is a common problem across three
types of repetitive, negative thinking: obsessions (as seen in obsessive compulsive disorder,
OCD), worries (as seen in generalized anxiety disorder, GAD), and ruminations (as seen in
major depressive disorder, MDD).
ability to stop one's thought process and shift attention) is a common problem across three
types of repetitive, negative thinking: obsessions (as seen in obsessive compulsive disorder,
OCD), worries (as seen in generalized anxiety disorder, GAD), and ruminations (as seen in
major depressive disorder, MDD).
The primary aims of this study are to utilize self-report and behavioral measures to examine
whether cognitive control is a common factor across three types of repetitive negative
thinking (RNT): obsessions in OCD, worries in GAD, and ruminations in MDD. Specifically, the
investigators aim to test whether individuals with obsessions, worries, and depressive
ruminations demonstrate impaired cognitive control on executive functioning
neuropsychological tasks (i.e., response inhibition, set shifting, attentional disengagement)
relative to individuals without any psychiatric diagnoses. Additionally, the investigators
will examine whether these deficits are associated with self-report measures of RNT as well
as in vivo responding during a laboratory paradigm designed to induce intrusive thinking.
Findings could inform psychological treatment of these problematic intrusions using novel
transdiagnostic approaches.
whether cognitive control is a common factor across three types of repetitive negative
thinking (RNT): obsessions in OCD, worries in GAD, and ruminations in MDD. Specifically, the
investigators aim to test whether individuals with obsessions, worries, and depressive
ruminations demonstrate impaired cognitive control on executive functioning
neuropsychological tasks (i.e., response inhibition, set shifting, attentional disengagement)
relative to individuals without any psychiatric diagnoses. Additionally, the investigators
will examine whether these deficits are associated with self-report measures of RNT as well
as in vivo responding during a laboratory paradigm designed to induce intrusive thinking.
Findings could inform psychological treatment of these problematic intrusions using novel
transdiagnostic approaches.
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Adults (age 18+)
2. Intrusive thoughts group: Clinically significant intrusive thought in the domain of
obsessions, worries, or depressive ruminations with a score above the clinical mean (≥
37) on the trait repetitive negative thinking measure (Perseverative Thinking
Questionnaire, PTQ)
3. Non-psychiatric control (NPC) group: A score 1 SD below the community mean (≤ 15) on
the trait repetitive negative thinking measure (PTQ)
4. Sufficient fluency of English to understand study procedures and questionnaires
5. Ability to provide informed consent.
6. Comfortable and capable of using a computer and completing reaction-time tasks.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Acute psychosis, mania, or suicidality
2. Diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; in order to preserve diagnostic
clarity of the domains of intrusive thoughts under investigation)
3. Serious neurological disorder or impairment (e.g., brain damage, blindness), attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, or autism.
We found this trial at
1
site
185 Cambridge Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
617-724-5200
Phone: 617-724-4167
Click here to add this to my saved trials
