Military service in combat units entails exposure to traumatic events that require mental adjustment. To develop and efficiently apply attentional interventions aimed at enhancing soldiers' combat performance, it is essential to extensively investigate the efficiency of these training programs, which has yet to been done. The prupose of the current study is to examine the efficiency of the new attention eye-tracking based training, in comparison to RT-based training and to a control group, in improving performance of combat soldiers. In addition, the influence of the attention training on aspects of psychological resilience will also be examined in questionnaires.
Following the explanation to participants regarding the study process, those who give written consent to participate will be randomly placed into one of three groups: GCFT (N=60), ABMT (N=60), and a neutral control group - task based on eye-tracking (N=60). The study will include 2 measurement points during the military service: before the attention training and after the attention training. In each measurement point, the soldiers will complete computerized tasks to measure threat attention, questionnaires, and performance data from shooting ranges and combat fitness.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
79
Feedback according to participants' viewing patterns, in order to modify their attention toward threat stimuli.
Attention training via repeated trials of a dot-probe task intended to direct attention toward threat stimuli using threat and neutral face stimuli.
Participants listen to a musical track they chose with no operant conditioning.
Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv, Israel
Change in Combat Performance
Composite scores for Static marksmanship, simulator shooting performance (Bagira), running test grades, and obstacle course grades will be gathered from soldiers' commanders before and after intervention sessions to test for change.
Time frame: Approximately 3 months after baseline
Post-Combat Trauma
Score on on self-report questionnaire Posttraumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). The total score, ranging from 0 to 80, reflects PTSD symptom severity, with higher scores representing greater severity.
Time frame: Change from baseline Post-Combat PTSD Symptoms at approximately 3 months
Post-Combat General Anxiety
Score on self-report questionnaire Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7). The total score, ranging from 0 to 21, reflects GAD symptom severity, with higher scores representing greater severity.
Time frame: Change from baseline Post-Combat General Anxiety Symptoms at approximately 3 months
Post-Combat Depression
Score on self-report Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). The total score, ranging from 0-27, reflects severity of depressive symptoms, with higher scores representing greater severity.
Time frame: Change from baseline Post-Combat Depression Symptoms at approximately 3 months
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