CI

At a glance

ClinicalIndex Comparison Record
N/ACompleted· 65 enrolled
Drug / intervention
Emotion Regulation Therapy - Attention Regulation (AR-ERT) +1 morebehavioral
Likely dose
Not stated in record
Structured eligibility isn't available for this trial yet — see the full criteria in the Eligibility tab below.

Standardized by ClinicalIndex from the ClinicalTrials.gov record · verify against the source.

Search/NCT04225624
NCT04225624N/ACompleted

Targeting Attentional and Cognitive Control to Enhance the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Repetitive Negative Thinking

Massachusetts General Hospital·interventional·Posted Jan 13, 2020·Updated Mar 10, 2026

In Brief

A clinical study evaluating Emotion Regulation Therapy - Attention Regulation (AR-ERT) and Supportive Psychotherapy (SPT) for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and 2 related conditions. Completed, enrolled 65 participants across 1 site.

Detailed Summary

The investigators are conducting this study to learn more about the cognitive and attentional processes among individuals with three types of repetitive negative thinking (RNT): mental rituals (as seen in obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD), worries (as seen in generalized anxiety disorder, GAD), and ruminations (as seen in major depressive disorder, MDD). Specifically, the investigators are studying whether psychological treatment can help people with RNT who have trouble stopping unwanted thoughts and shifting their attention.

Study Details

Study Typeinterventional
Allocation--
Masking--
Primary Purpose--
CountriesUnited States

Timeline

N/ACompletedFinished
2020202120222023202420252026
First PostedJan 13, 2020
Enrollment StartApr 30, 2021
Primary CompletionJan 22, 2025
Study CompletionApr 9, 2025
TodayJul 2, 2026
Enrollment to primary: 3.7 yearsPosted 6.5 years ago

Interventions

Emotion Regulation Therapy - Attention Regulation (AR-ERT)behavioral

Participants will receive a total of eight 60 minute sessions (over 8 weeks) of individual, manual-based AR-ERT. This intervention aims to build attention regulation skills (i.e., the ability to flexibly shift and sustain attention) by teaching participants exercises for Orienting their attention and Allowing the presence of negative emotions. Participants are taught to apply these skills to counteract reactive perseverative thinking when negative emotions arise as well as proactively engage with emotion-laden situations that trigger repetitive negative thinking.

Supportive Psychotherapy (SPT)behavioral

Participants will receive a total of eight 60 minute sessions (over 8 weeks) of individual, manual-based SPT. This intervention addresses factors that may affect participants' repetitive negative thinking symptoms (for example, relationships, work, stress), and teaches skills for managing challenges by improving self-esteem and positive coping skills.