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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05294848

Increasing Psychological Resilience in Combat Soldiers Applying Advanced Eye-Tracking-Based Attention Bias Modification

Military service in combat units entails exposure to traumatic events that require mental adjustment. To develop and efficiently apply attention bias modification interventions aimed at enhancing soldiers' mental resilience, it is essential to test the efficiency of such training programs in RCTs. The purpose of the current study is to examine the efficiency of a new attention eye-tracking-based training protocol, in comparison to an RT-based training protocol, and to a control group, in reducing risk for post-trauma symptoms in combat deployed soldiers.

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Key information

Conditions

PTSD Anxiety Disorders Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Depression Mental Disorders Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Traumatic Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Tel Aviv University

Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel

About this study

Following the explanation to participants regarding the study process, those who give written consent to participate will be randomly placed into one of three groups: GCFT (N=180), ABMT (N=180), and a neutral control group - RT-based task (N=180). The study will include 3 measurement points: before attention training (in basic training before deployment), after attention training (in basic training camp, still before deployment), and after a combat deployment cycle (6-12 months - to be determined based on the military deployment mission of the participants). In each measurement point, the participants will complete computerized tasks to measure attention and will complete self-report questionnaires.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Each soldier from the allocated cohort who gives written consent will be able to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

  • Hebrew proficiency is insufficient to complete the study questionnaires.

Treatment and study plan

Gaze-Contingent Feedback Training

Behavioral

Feedback according to participants' viewing patterns, in order to modify their attention toward threat stimuli.

Attention Bias Modification

Behavioral

Attention training via repeated trials of a dot-probe task intended to direct attention toward threat stimuli using threat and neutral face stimuli.

Neutral Control

Behavioral

Dot-probe task using only neutral stimuli with no training toward threat

Primary outcomes

  1. Post-Combat PTSD Symptoms

    Time frame: Change from baseline Post-Combat PTSD Symptoms at approximately 1.5 years

    Score on on self-report questionnaire Posttraumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). The total score, ranging from 0 to 80, reflects PTSD symptom severity, with higher scores representing greater severity.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Post-Combat General Anxiety

    Time frame: Change from baseline Post-Combat General Anxiety Symptoms at approximately 1.5 years

    Score on self-report questionnaire Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7). The total score, ranging from 0 to 21, reflects GAD symptom severity, with higher scores representing greater severity.

  2. Post-Combat Depression

    Time frame: Change from baseline Post-Combat Depression Symptoms at approximately 1.5 years

    Score on self-report Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). The total score, ranging from 0-27, reflects severity of depressive symptoms, with higher scores representing greater severity

Other outcomes

  1. Post-Training RT-based Attention Bias toward threat

    Time frame: Change from baseline Attention Bias within 6 months of baseline measurement

    Change in Attention Bias will be assessed with a response-time based dot-probe task.

  2. Post-Training Subjective Attention Bias toward threat

    Time frame: Change from baseline Attention Bias within 6 months of baseline measurement

    Change in Subjective Attention Bias will be assessed with a self-reported attention bias using the Attention Bias Questionnaire (ABQ). The total score, ranging from 0 to 36, represents threat-related attention bias, with higher scores representing greater bias toward threat.

  3. Post-Training Eye-tracking Attention Bias toward threat

    Time frame: Change from baseline Attention Bias within 6 months of baseline measurement

    Change in Attention Bias will also be assessed with an eye-tracking task.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Tel Aviv University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2024
First posted
Mar 24, 2022
Registry last updated
Apr 11, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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