Neurobehavioral Affective Control Training

Description

The goal of this clinical trial is to test a new cognitive training program to improve emotion regulation in adults. The investigators' primary aim is to determine whether participating in this program addresses two key features of emotion dysregulation associated with psychiatric disorders: (1) emotion-related impulsivity and (2) rumination. The investigators will further evaluate participants' perceived acceptability and feasibility of treatment procedures. Secondarily, the investigators will examine the effects of this cognitive training intervention on psychiatric symptoms and overall functioning. The researchers will compare the cognitive training program to a waitlist control. Participants will be asked to complete eight weekly sessions (over two months) involving cognitive training exercises with a "coach", in addition to a baseline assessment before starting the intervention and post-treatment assessment. Each assessment includes a combination of in-person and remote data collection using self-report questionnaires, psychophysiology, and a neuropsychological battery. Participants will also complete one week of ecological momentary assessment before and after the intervention as well as a set of follow-up questionnaires administered remotely six weeks following their final training session. Researchers will compare participants randomly assigned to complete the intervention without delay to a control group of participants randomly assigned to a two-month waitlist before joining the intervention. Before beginning cognitive training, participants in the control condition will complete an additional pre-intervention/post-waitlist assessment, which will follow parallel procedures to the initial baseline assessment.

Conditions

Emotional Distress, Impulsive Behavior, Mood Lability, Mood Instability, Rumination, Psychopathology, Affective Symptoms

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to test a new cognitive training program to improve emotion regulation in adults. The investigators' primary aim is to determine whether participating in this program addresses two key features of emotion dysregulation associated with psychiatric disorders: (1) emotion-related impulsivity and (2) rumination. The investigators will further evaluate participants' perceived acceptability and feasibility of treatment procedures. Secondarily, the investigators will examine the effects of this cognitive training intervention on psychiatric symptoms and overall functioning. The researchers will compare the cognitive training program to a waitlist control. Participants will be asked to complete eight weekly sessions (over two months) involving cognitive training exercises with a "coach", in addition to a baseline assessment before starting the intervention and post-treatment assessment. Each assessment includes a combination of in-person and remote data collection using self-report questionnaires, psychophysiology, and a neuropsychological battery. Participants will also complete one week of ecological momentary assessment before and after the intervention as well as a set of follow-up questionnaires administered remotely six weeks following their final training session. Researchers will compare participants randomly assigned to complete the intervention without delay to a control group of participants randomly assigned to a two-month waitlist before joining the intervention. Before beginning cognitive training, participants in the control condition will complete an additional pre-intervention/post-waitlist assessment, which will follow parallel procedures to the initial baseline assessment.

Neurobehavioral Affective Control Training (N-ACT): A Randomized Waitlist-controlled Pilot Trial to Evaluate a Novel Cognitive Remediation Program for Emotion-related Impulsivity and Rumination

Neurobehavioral Affective Control Training

Condition
Emotional Distress
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley, California, United States, 94720

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Current residency in the state of California
  • * Elevated levels of rumination and/or emotion-related impulsivity
  • * Insufficient English language literacy to understand study procedures (as assessed by self-report)
  • * Careless or inattentive responding as indicated by (a) failing 50% or more of "attention check" items embedded in the online screening questionnaires, (b) overly rapid responding (i.e., mean response time of less than two seconds for multiple choice items), or (c) qualitative review of long strings of identical entries on screening/baseline questionnaire items that suggest data invalidity
  • * Positive history of brain tumors, neurological disorders, or head injuries (with loss of consciousness more than five minutes and/or more than two separate instances of clinically-significant head trauma)
  • * Recent (i.e., past three months) alcohol/other substance use disorders or current psychosis (as assessed by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview; MINI)
  • * Active suicidal ideation paired with either (1) plan and/or intent or (2) lifetime history of suicide attempts (as assessed by the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale; C-SSRS)

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

University of California, Berkeley,

Sheri L. Johnson, Ph.D., PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of California, Berkeley

J.D. Allen, Ph.D., STUDY_DIRECTOR, University of California, Berkeley

Åsa Hammar, Ph.D., STUDY_DIRECTOR, University of Bergen

Study Record Dates

2025-09-30