Stress and Anxiety Effects on Valuation

Stress and Anxiety Effects on Valuation

The purpose of this study is to understand how stress, anxiety, and negative affect change learning and decision-making processes. The primary objective is to assess two forms of decision-making-reward adaptation and emotion prediction errors-differ as a function of stress and anxiety. The secondary objectives are to assess how individual differences measured in our studies relate to these decision variables.

Inclusion Criteria:

Aims 1-3: To be eligible for participation in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

• 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.

Aim 4: To be eligible for participation in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

• 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 Criteria:

Aims 1-3: Individuals will be excluded from participation if any of the following criteria are met:

• 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

Aim 4: Individuals will be excluded from participation if any of the following criteria are met:

• 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