Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Augments the Effects of Gamified, Mobile Attention Bias Modification
Overview
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Anxiety
- Sponsor
- Hunter College of City University of New York
- Enrollment
- 38
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Self-reported subjective state anxiety
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 6 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The present study tested whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) across the prefrontal cortex (PFC), versus sham stimulation, effectively augments the beneficial effects of a gamified attention bias modification training (ABMT) mobile app.
Detailed Description
Anxiety-related attentional bias (AB) is the preferential processing of threat observed in clinical and sub-clinical anxiety. Attention bias modification training (ABMT) is a computerized cognitive training technique designed to systematically direct attention away from threat and ameliorate AB, but mixed and null findings have highlighted gaps in our understanding of mechanisms underlying ABMT and how to design the most effective delivery systems. One neuromodulation technique, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) across the prefrontal cortex (PFC) may augment the effects of ABMT by strengthening top-down cognitive control processes, but the evidence base is limited and has not been generalized to current approaches in digital therapeutics, such as mobile applications. The present study tested whether tDCS across the PFC, versus sham stimulation, effectively augments the beneficial effects of a gamified ABMT mobile app. Thirty-eight adults (Mage = 23.92, SD = 4.75; 18 females) evidencing low-to-moderate anxiety symptoms were randomly assigned to active or sham tDCS for 30-minutes while receiving ABMT via a mobile app. Participants reported on potential moderators of ABMT, including life stress and trait anxiety. ECG was recorded during a subsequent stressor to generate respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) suppression as a metric of stress resilience.
Investigators
Tracy Dennis
Primary Investigator
Hunter College of City University of New York
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •mild - moderate anxiety
Exclusion Criteria
- •psychotic disorder
- •substance use disorder
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Self-reported subjective state anxiety
Time Frame: Day 1
Self report of state anxiety using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI); Higher scores mean greater anxiety severity/worse outcomes (scores ranging from 20-80).
Threat bias, or dsyregulated attention towards threat, measured via computer assay
Time Frame: Day 1
Using the computerized, reaction time-based cognitive assessment task, the "dot probe", biased attention towards or away from threat-relevant information will be assessed based on reaction-time based scoring procedures. Higher scores mean greater bias/worse outcomes
Self-reported negative mood symptoms
Time Frame: Day 1
Self report using the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS); Higher scores mean more severe negative mood/worse outcomes (scores ranging from 0-42)
Secondary Outcomes
- Magnitude of respiratory sinus arrhythmia, or variability in heart rate due to respiration rate(Day 1)