Role of Parent Interpretation Bias in the Transmission of Anxiety to Children
Anxiety
About this trial
This is an interventional basic science trial for Anxiety
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion criteria for parent participants are: Must have an ability to speak and understand English sufficiently to complete assessments At least minimal anxiety severity (GAD-7 score > 5) At least a minimal level of interpretation bias (WSAP overall accuracy less than 70%) No current psychiatric symptoms that would interfere with the individual's ability to provide consent or complete the research procedures If receiving treatment, stable on medications or psychotherapy for 8 weeks No severe suicidal ideation (PHQ-9 item 9 > 1) Own iOS or Android smartphone Shared or full custody of child (for EMA assessment of parenting behaviors) Inclusion criteria for child participants are: Age 7 to 12 Must have an ability to speak and understand English sufficiently to complete assessments No diagnosis of intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder (per parent or clinician report) No current psychiatric symptoms that would prevent informed consent or understanding of research procedures Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) full-scale IQ equal to or greater than 80 to ensure understanding of study procedures If receiving treatment, stable on medications or psychotherapy for 8 weeks No severe suicidal ideation (PHQ-9 item 9 > 1)
Sites / Locations
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Placebo Comparator
Interpretation bias manipulation
Self-Assessment
The primary component of the interpretation bias manipulation is the Word Sentence Association Paradigm (WSAP) delivered by the HabitWorks smartphone app. Users complete 50 trials in each exercise (approximately 5 min) and are prompted to complete 3 exercises per week (12 total over 4 weeks). The WSAP incorporates repetitive and quick practice, increasing individuals' awareness of their cognitive biases and shifting of their automatic responses.
Parents will complete the same repeated assessments, including EMA of parent behavior and weekly symptom surveys, but they will not complete the WSAP.