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Understanding Stress and Anxiety Effects on Decision-Making

This study aims to understand how stress, anxiety, and negative feelings affect how we learn and make decisions. Researchers will use two interventions: the Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Task (SECPT), which involves placing your hand in ice-cold water while being observed, and a Non-Stressful Control Task, which uses warm water. The study will measure how you value food and rate images (how pleasant or unpleasant they are) to see how stress changes these decisions. You can join if you are between 18 and 65 years old, can speak and write English, and are willing to follow study procedures. The study plans to enroll 200 people. The current status of the study is unclear.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 200 participants. It compares two behavioral interventions: the Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Task and a Non-Stressful Control Task.
What's involved
You would participate in one study visit lasting approximately 2 hours. During this visit, you would either submerge your hand in ice-cold water or warm water, and then rate food stimuli and images.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your responses will be measured at the single study visit, approximately 2 hours after starting.

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NCT07252947

Stress and Anxiety Effects on Valuation

Recruiting
NAAges 18–65Interventional
NYU Langone Health
~200 participants
Updated 2025-12-22 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Task (SECPT)Non-Stressful Control Task

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Subjective Value Assigned to Food Stimuli
Measured over Study Visit (Day 1 - Approx. 2 Hours)
+5 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Reward Value Level

Explore related trials

Generalized Anxiety DisorderHealthy

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
New York1

Study leadership

  • Candace Raio, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · NYU Langone Health

Who to contact

Candace Raio, PhD
[email protected]
212-404-4223
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

18-65 years of age
Able to speak, read, and write fluently in English
Be willing and able to follow study procedures and provide informed consent.
18-65 years of age
Diagnosis of GAD
Able to speak, read, and write fluently in English
Be willing and able to follow study procedures and provide informed consent.

Exclusion

History of or medication for neurologic or psychiatric disease
High-blood pressure or heart condition
Diabetes, food allergies, metabolic disorders or history of eating disorder
Use of corticosteroids or beta-blockers
Pregnancy
High-blood pressure or heart condition
Diabetes, food allergies, metabolic disorders or history of eating disorder
Use of corticosteroids or beta-blockers
Lifetime history of bipolar disorder or any psychotic disorder; substance use disorder in past 3 months; eating disorder in past 6 months; current major depressive disorder (past is allowed)
Active suicidal ideation with plan and intent (indicated by score \>=4 on the Columbia Suicide Severity Scale)
Not on stable dose of psychiatric medication for at least 4 weeks prior to study participation
Pregnancy

What this trial measures

  • Subjective Value Assigned to Food StimuliStudy Visit (Day 1 - Approx. 2 Hours)

    Measured as participants' willingness-to-pay ($) for snack foods across the behavioral task. (Aims 1 and 4).

  • Valence Rating Score of OASIS ImagesStudy Visit (Day 1 - Approx. 2 Hours)

    Valence is rated on a scale from 0 (very negative) to 6 (very positive). (Aims 2 and 4)

  • Pleasantness Rating Score of OASIS ImagesStudy Visit (Day 1 - Approx. 2 Hours)

    Pleasantness is rated on a scale from 0 (very unpleasant) to 6 (very pleasant). (Aims 2 and 4)

  • Intensity Rating Score of OASIS ImagesStudy Visit (Day 1 - Approx. 2 Hours)

    Intensity is rated on a scale from 0 (very low) to 6 (very high). (Aims 2 and 4)

  • Emotion Predictions - ValenceStudy Visit (Day 1 - Approx. 2 Hours)

    Difference in valence ratings before and after trial outcomes. (Aims 3 and 4)

  • Emotion Predictions - PleasantnessStudy Visit (Day 1 - Approx. 2 Hours)

    Difference in pleasantness ratings before and after trial outcomes. (Aims 3 and 4)