How stress and anxiety change how people value rewards
Stress and Anxiety Effects on Valuation
This study will test whether stress, anxiety, and negative mood change how adults learn from and choose rewards, including a group with generalized anxiety disorder.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | NYU Langone Health Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (New York, New York) |
| Trial ID | NCT07252947 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Participants aged 18–65 will undergo a lab stress induction (the Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Task) or a non-stressful control task and then complete decision-making tasks that measure reward adaptation and emotion prediction errors. The primary aim compares two forms of reward-based decision adaptation and emotion prediction errors under differing levels of stress and anxiety. Secondary analyses will relate individual differences (e.g., symptom levels) to these decision-making variables. Standard exclusions apply (e.g., serious medical or psychiatric conditions, certain medications, pregnancy) and one aim specifically enrolls participants diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults 18–65 who speak, read, and write English and can provide informed consent; Aims 1–3 enroll psychiatrically and neurologically healthy volunteers, while Aim 4 enrolls adults with a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder.
Not a fit: People with high blood pressure or heart conditions, diabetes or metabolic disorders, pregnancy, those taking corticosteroids or beta-blockers, or those with current neurologic or psychiatric disease are excluded and would not be eligible to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could help tailor treatments that target altered learning and decision-making in people with anxiety.
How similar studies have performed: Prior lab studies using the SECPT and related stress manipulations have shown that acute stress can alter learning and reward processing, so this work builds on established methods rather than being entirely novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Aims 1-3: To be eligible for participation in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria: * 18-65 years of age * Able to speak, read, and write fluently in English * Be willing and able to follow study procedures and provide informed consent. Aim 4: To be eligible for participation in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria: * 18-65 years of age * Diagnosis of GAD * Able to speak, read, and write fluently in English * Be willing and able to follow study procedures and provide informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: Aims 1-3: Individuals will be excluded from participation if any of the following criteria are met: * History of or medication for neurologic or psychiatric disease * High-blood pressure or heart condition * Diabetes, food allergies, metabolic disorders or history of eating disorder * Use of corticosteroids or beta-blockers * Pregnancy Aim 4: Individuals will be excluded from participation if any of the following criteria are met: * High-blood pressure or heart condition * Diabetes, food allergies, metabolic disorders or history of eating disorder * Use of corticosteroids or beta-blockers * Lifetime history of bipolar disorder or any psychotic disorder; substance use disorder in past 3 months; eating disorder in past 6 months; current major depressive disorder (past is allowed) * Active suicidal ideation with plan and intent (indicated by score \>=4 on the Columbia Suicide Severity Scale) * Not on stable dose of psychiatric medication for at least 4 weeks prior to study participation * Pregnancy
Where this trial is running
New York, New York
- NYU Langone Health — New York, New York, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Candace Raio, PhD — NYU Langone Health
- Study coordinator: Candace Raio, PhD
- Email: Candace.Raio@nyulangone.org
- Phone: 212-404-4223
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.