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Enhanced Cognitive Reappraisal and Emotion Awareness Training (eCREAT) for Maladaptive Anger Inhibition - A Pilot Study

NCT06697587 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 38

Last updated 2025-01-13

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Habitual suppression of intense anger, commonly known as maladaptive anger inhibition, is a widespread issue related to various adverse outcomes. These include, for instance, diminished social support, reduced relationship quality, increased risk for coronary heart disease, and heightened susceptibility to chronic and temporary pain conditions. Developing effective psychological treatments may be one key approach to alleviate the distress experienced amongst these individuals.

The overall goal of this pilot study is to further develop and enhance a previously evaluated treatment protocol for maladaptive anger (Bjureberg et al., 2023) to more effectively target maladaptive anger inhibition. The specific goals are:

1. To assess the feasibility and acceptability of the study (operationalized as number of completed modules and measurements, reported negative events and patient experience).
2. To assess outcome variability and estimate the relative effect of the treatment in reducing maladaptive anger inhibition. Maladaptive anger inhibition was operationalized as high levels of trait anger suppression (main outcome), anger rumination (secondary outcome) as well as low levels assertive expression of anger (secondary outcome).

Secondary aims (to be reported in secondary papers)
3. To assess and explore participants' qualitative experiences of maladaptive anger inhibition.
4. To explore within-subjects emotion dynamics using daily assessments.

Conditions

  • Maladaptive Anger Inhibition

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Enhanced Cognitive Reappraisal and Emotion Awareness Training (eCREAT)

eCREAT features psychoeducational content on anger management, practical exercises, and homework assignments, all supported by an online therapist who provides text-based feedback. The protocol builds on a previously evaluated protocol for maladaptive anger (ClinicalTrials.gov; ID: NCT03858296) with added focus on anger inhibition. eCREAT is based on the two-stage model of maladaptive anger inhibition (Burns et al., 2008), which posits that suppressed anger may rebound and return as angry fantasies and ruminations. To address these core mechanisms, the treatment includes training on adaptive anger processing and expression and strategies for disrupting anger ruminations. These added treatment components are based on established protocols for depressive rumination, and assertive expression of emotion, adapted for an anger context. Additionally, the treatment also focuses on how to flexibly shift between different emotion regulation strategies depending on contextual demands.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Principal Investigators

  • Hugo Hesser, Phd · Örebro University, Sweden

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
75 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-01-17
Primary Completion
2024-08-13
Completion
2024-08-13

Countries

  • Sweden

Study Locations

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Entities

Companies

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06697587 on ClinicalTrials.gov