Clinical trial · Observational
CBT and the Neural Circuits of Anxiety
The Impact of CBT on Shock-Potentiated Neural Circuity
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
This study will aim to test whether specific neural circuitry changes, proposed on the basis of a neurocognitive model of anxiety, are a mechanism of action for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) interventions. This study aims to provide a theoretical model of the neurobiological mechanisms of CBT's therapeutic effect, where there currently is none, and potentially allow for more targeted/specific approaches to anxiety disorders following the identification of key CBT mechanisms. The ultimate aim is to improve the efficacy of CBT, and more generally, psychological interventions for anxiety disorders.
Conditions
Conditions (9)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Anxiety Depression | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Anxiety Disorder Generalized | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Anxiety Disorder; Mixed With Depression (Mild) | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Anxiety Disorders | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Anxiety Generalized | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| CBT | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Generalised Anxiety Disorder | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
Interventions
Interventions (2)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Behavioural Therapy | Behavioral | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Waiting List | Other | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (2)
- label
- Treatment Group
- description
- Participants undergoing a course of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- interventionNames
- Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- label
- Waiting List Group
- description
- Participants on the Waiting List for CBT
- interventionNames
- Other: Waiting List
Primary outcomes (1)
- measure
- 'Aversive amplification circuit' connectivity
- timeFrame
- Day 0, up to 12 weeks (post-CBT or matched time on waiting list)
- description
- The engagement of the neural circuit of the amygdala, cingulate cortex and prefrontal cortex will be measured via an fMRI analysis technique called a psychophysiological interactions (PPI) analysis. PPI analysis concerns behaviour-specific increases in the relationship across regional brain activity - this means that it can allow one to assess whether two regions (a priori selected ROIs) show increased connectivity during a specific context or behaviour, suggesting a behaviour-specific increase in transfer of information. The output of this analysis will take form of a continuous beta weight - an index of connectivity across two brain regions (amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex), which represents the primary outcome of the study.
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
- Maximum age
- 64 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: * Enrolled in IAPT Step 3 (high intensity service) * Score of or above 8 on the GAD-7 (indicating moderate anxiety on a standard scale of anxiety; Spitzer et al., 2006) * Willing and able to provide written consent Exclusion Criteria: * Score above 22 on the GAD-7 * Past/present psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder/mania or alcohol/substance use disorder (outside a comorbid psychiatric episode) * History of medical illness that may impair cognitive function (e.g. serious head injury, endocrine disorder) * Current psychotropic pharmacological intervention (e.g. SSRIs) or use within 3 months * MRI contraindications such as pacemaker, aneurysm clip, cochlear implant, neurostimulator, IUD, shrapnel, metal fragments in eye, weight of above 250lbs or claustrophobia * Females who are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding
References
Publications (0)
Data not yet available