Increasing Psychological Resilience in Combat Soldiers Applying Advanced Eye-Tracking-Based Attention Bias Modification

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Anxiety Disorders; PTSD; Depression

• Registration Number: NCT05294848
• Lead Sponsor: Tel Aviv University

Brief Summary

Military service in combat units entails exposure to traumatic events that require mental adjustment. To develop and efficiently apply attention bias modification interventions aimed at enhancing soldiers' mental resilience, it is essential to test the efficiency of such training programs in RCTs. The purpose of the current study is to examine the efficiency of a new attention eye-tracking-based training protocol, in comparison to an RT-based training protocol, and to a control group, in reducing risk for post-trauma symptoms in combat deployed soldiers.

Detailed Description

Following the explanation to participants regarding the study process, those who give written consent to participate will be randomly placed into one of three groups: GCFT (N=180), ABMT (N=180), and a neutral control group - RT-based task (N=180). The study will include 3 measurement points: before attention training (in basic training before deployment), after attention training (in basic training camp, still before deployment), and after a combat deployment cycle (6-12 months - to be determined based on the military deployment mission of the participants). In each measurement point, the participants will complete computerized tasks to measure attention and will complete self-report questionnaires.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2021-06-30
• Study First Submitted: 2022-03-08
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-03-22
• Study First Posted: 2022-03-24
• Primary Completion: 2023-08-14
• Study Completion: 2024-06-21
• Status Verified: 2025-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-04-08
• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-11

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 501

Inclusion Criteria

• Each soldier from the allocated cohort who gives written consent will be able to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria

• Hebrew proficiency is insufficient to complete the study questionnaires.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Post-Combat PTSD Symptoms	Change from baseline Post-Combat PTSD Symptoms at approximately 1.5 years	Score on on self-report questionnaire Posttraumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). The total score, ranging from 0 to 80, reflects PTSD symptom severity, with higher scores representing greater severity.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Post-Combat General Anxiety	Change from baseline Post-Combat General Anxiety Symptoms at approximately 1.5 years	Score on self-report questionnaire Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7). The total score, ranging from 0 to 21, reflects GAD symptom severity, with higher scores representing greater severity.
Post-Combat Depression	Change from baseline Post-Combat Depression Symptoms at approximately 1.5 years	Score on self-report Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). The total score, ranging from 0-27, reflects severity of depressive symptoms, with higher scores representing greater severity

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Tel Aviv University; 🇮🇱 Tel Aviv, Israel