Improving treatment for repetitive negative thinking through attention and cognitive control.
Targeting Attentional and Cognitive Control to Enhance the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Repetitive Negative Thinking
This study is looking for ways to help people who struggle with repetitive negative thoughts, like worries that stick around even after therapy, by testing a new treatment that focuses on improving how they pay attention and manage their feelings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10821371 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing treatment for individuals experiencing repetitive negative thinking (RNT), which includes mental rituals and worries that often persist after cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The study aims to improve attention regulation skills through a new intervention called Emotion Regulation Therapy-Attention Regulation (ERT-AR). By comparing this approach to supportive psychotherapy, the research will measure improvements in cognitive control using various methods, including eye tracking and reaction time assessments. The goal is to identify effective strategies to help patients better manage their thoughts and emotions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with affective disorders who experience repetitive negative thinking and have not responded adequately to traditional cognitive behavioral therapy.
Not a fit: Patients who do not experience repetitive negative thinking or those with conditions unrelated to affective disorders may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients struggling with repetitive negative thinking, ultimately improving their mental health outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in enhancing cognitive control strategies for improving mental health outcomes, suggesting that this approach may yield beneficial results.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jacoby, Ryan J — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Jacoby, Ryan J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.