RecruitingNot Applicable

Test of Target Engagement of Ambiguity Aversion

United States140 participantsStarted 2025-07-07

Plain-language summary

The present work aims to test whether a single session intervention alters ambiguity aversion, both in terms of people's decision making and their brain responses to ambiguous choices.

Who can participate

Age range

25 Years – 60 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. Ages 25 to 60
. Right-handed
. Ability to read and write English
. Capacity to provide informed consent
. Intolerance of uncertainty score ≥ -0.5 standard deviation below the mean (31st percentile)

Exclusion criteria

. Personal history of psychosis, mania, or hypomania
. Personal history of autism spectrum disorder
. IQ \< 80 as determined by the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading
. Head injury with greater than 120 seconds loss of consciousness
. Neurological condition (e.g., epilepsy, Parkinson's, cerebral palsy, history of stroke)
. Currently pregnant
. Use of any implanted electrical device (e.g., pacemaker, spinal stimulator, vagal nerve stimulator, Inspire sleep apnea device, etc.).

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Beck Hopelessness Scale-4 (BHS-4)

Timeframe: 1 hour

Behavioral ambiguity aversion

Timeframe: 1 hour

Event-related potential responses to ambiguous choices

Timeframe: 1 hour

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06962527

SponsorNorthwestern University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2029-07-01

Contact for this trial

Brent I Rappaport, Ph.D.

(312) 585-6603 decisionmaking@northwestern.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Intolerance of Uncertainty trials

Who can participate

Age range

25 Years – 60 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. Ages 25 to 60
. Right-handed
. Ability to read and write English
. Capacity to provide informed consent
. Intolerance of uncertainty score ≥ -0.5 standard deviation below the mean (31st percentile)

Exclusion criteria

. Personal history of psychosis, mania, or hypomania
. Personal history of autism spectrum disorder
. IQ \< 80 as determined by the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading
. Head injury with greater than 120 seconds loss of consciousness
. Neurological condition (e.g., epilepsy, Parkinson's, cerebral palsy, history of stroke)
. Currently pregnant
. Use of any implanted electrical device (e.g., pacemaker, spinal stimulator, vagal nerve stimulator, Inspire sleep apnea device, etc.).