Test of Target Engagement of Ambiguity Aversion

Part of paid clinical trials in Chicago, Illinois.

Sponsor
Northwestern University
Study ID
NCT06962527
Status
Recruiting
Apply to this trial

Conditions

  • Anxiety
  • Depression, Anxiety
  • Intolerance of Uncertainty
  • Intolerance of Uncertainty; Anxiety

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
25 Years - 60 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Uncertainty-focused single session intervention — BEHAVIORAL
    Digitally/computer administered 30-minute self-guided intervention for adults ages 25-60
  • Maintaining a healthy lifestyle single session intervention — BEHAVIORAL
    Digitally/computer administered 30-minute self-guided intervention for adults ages 25-60

Study Details

The present work aims to test whether a single session intervention alters ambiguity aversion, both in terms of people's decision making and their brain responses to ambiguous choices.

Key Dates

Start date
Jul 7, 2025
Status verified
Mar 2026
Primary completion
Jul 1, 2029
Completion
Dec 31, 2029

Study Design

Enrollment
140 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE

Arms

  • Experimental: Uncertainty-focused single session intervention
    This is a digital, self-guided SSI that teaches adults about tolerating and embracing uncertainty in their life. The SSI is based on five elements: 1. An introduction the concept of neuroplasticity; 2. Testimonials from peers describing beliefs that people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are malleable, given the brain's capacity for change; 3. Strategies (from cognitive-behavioral therapy) for applying these principles to participants' lives; 4. Further vignettes by peers describing times when they tolerated or embraced uncertainty; 5. An exercise wherein participants provide advice to fictional peers, using newly-gleaned information about uncertainty,
  • Placebo Comparator: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle single session intervention
    This is a digital, self-guided SSI that teaches adults about the benefits of maintaining a healthy lifestyle (e.g., proper sleep, diet, exercise), emphasizing recommendations by various bodies (e.g., American Medical Association). It is structurally similar to the uncertainty-focused SSI but is designed to mimic what people would receive in their annual physical with a primary care physician. The goals of this intervention is to encourage participants to identify aspects of a healthy lifestyle, and steps they could take towards a healthier lifestyle. This SSI is designed to control for nonspecific aspects of intervention, including engagement in a computer program, reading and writing exercises, and vignettes from peers.

Primary Outcome Measure

Beck Hopelessness Scale-4 (BHS-4) [ Time Frame: 1 hour ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Northwestern UniversityChicagoIllinois60611
Brent I Rappaport, Ph.D.
[email protected]
(312) 585-6603‬
Brent I Rappaport, Ph.D. (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)

Find similar trials in Chicago, IL

By research site
Northwestern University· Chicago, IL

Related Studies