Effects of attention training technique on brain function in high- and low-cognitive-attentional syndrome individuals: Regional dynamics before, during, and after a single session of ATT

Kowalski, Joachim; Wierzba, Małgorzata; Wypych, Marek; Marchewka, Artur; Dragan, Małgorzata

doi:10.1016/j.brat.2020.103693

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…It has been suggested that the limited effectiveness of psychological interventions in CHD patients may be due to previous treatments that have not addressed the key factors linking depression to cardiac outcomes such as rumination and worry. These factors are targeted in metacognitive therapy and several intervention studies conducted in people with anxiety and depressive disorders have reported a significant reduction in rumination that is proposed as the central mechanisms for change in depressive symptoms (Kowalski et al, 2020 ). Type D personality and insomnia are also strongly associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression in CHD patients (Coryell et al, 2013 ; Frøjd et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Attention Training Technique Reduces Anxiety and Depression in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease: A Pilot Feasibility Study

et al. 2022

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Background and ObjectivesDepression and anxiety symptoms are highly prevalent in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients and associated with poor outcome. Most psychological treatments have shown limited effectiveness on anxiety and depression in these patients. This study evaluates the feasibility of the attention training technique (ATT) in CHD patients with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression.MethodsFive consecutive CHD patients with significant depression and anxiety symptoms with Hospital Anxiety and Depression rating scale (HADS) -anxiety or -depression subscale score > 8 received 6 weekly group-sessions of ATT in an open trial. Outcomes included feasibility and symptoms measured by HADS, at baseline, post-treatment and at 6 months follow-up. We also assessed psychiatric diagnoses, type D personality, insomnia, worry, and rumination.ResultsThe sample comprised five men with a mean age of 59.9 (SD 4.4) years. Four of the patients attended all six sessions, and one patient attended all but one session. Mean HADS-A scores at baseline, post-treatment, and follow-up were 9.4 (SD 3.0), 4.2 (SD 3.0), and 4.0 (SD 2.5), and for HADS-D 8.6 (SD 3.3), 3.0 (SD 3.7), and 1.6 (SD 1.5), respectively. The results showed clinically significant changes in anxiety, depression, psychiatric disorders, insomnia, worry, and rumination. Statistically significant changes were found from pre- to post-treatment scores for HADS-A and worry, which were maintained at follow-up, and HADS-D scores significantly decreased from pre-treatment to 6-months follow-up.ConclusionsATT in a group format appears to be a feasible stand-alone metacognitive treatment for CHD patients. An adequately powered randomized controlled trial is warranted.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Attention Training Technique Reduces Anxiety and Depression in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease: A Pilot Feasibility Study

et al. 2022

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“…Pre-to-post fMRI analysis showed elevated dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) activity during a cognitive task and decreased amygdala activity during an emotional task. Kowalski et al (2020) investigated modulation of neural connectivity through ATT (vs. a control condition) in high-and low-CAS individuals using fMRI. They observed differences in cerebral activity in multiple attention-oriented brain regions during ATT compared to a control condition, including the dorsal attention network (DAN), the fronto-parietal network (FPN) and the default mode network (DMN).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on previous findings, activity changes in multiple attention-related regions were expected. (1) With regard to aforementioned studies on the neuronal underpinnings of ATT ( Knowles and Wells, 2018 ; Rosenbaum et al, 2018 ; Kowalski et al, 2020 ) and general knowledge about the visual ( Corbetta et al, 2008 ) and auditory ( Lee et al, 2014 ) attentional networks, we expected to see decreased pre-to-post activation in the FPN and/or the CCN network in the ATT group in comparison to a sham ATT group. (2) In theory, ATT should improve the ability to disengage from distracting stimuli.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neural correlates of the attention training technique as used in metacognitive therapy – A randomized sham-controlled fMRI study in healthy volunteers

Jahn

Sinke²,

Kayali³

et al. 2023

Front. Psychol.

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IntroductionThe Attention Training Technique (ATT) developed as part of metacognitive therapy is a psychotherapeutic treatment method used to enhance top-down attentional flexibility and control. This study investigated potential neurocognitive changes due to ATT and its underlying neural mechanisms using pre-to-post functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).Materials and methodsFifty-four healthy participants were subjected to a randomized, sham-controlled attention training and evaluated using a neurocognitive test battery that partly took place in an fMRI environment. Participants received two doses ATT or sham ATT daily for 1 week. On day eight, all subjects completed the neurocognitive test battery again.ResultsAfter the training, the ATT group showed a significant improvement in reaction times regarding attentional disengagement compared to the sham ATT group. fMRI data showed decreased levels of activation in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) when comparing the ATT group to the sham ATT group during attentional disengagement post intervention. No ATT > sham ATT effects were found regarding selective auditory attention, working memory performance and inhibitory control.DiscussionThese findings putatively indicate that ATT facilitates faster attention allocation and increased attentional flexibility in healthy subjects. The fMRI results suggest this ATT-dependent improvement is accompanied by reduced ACC activity, indicating a more flexible attentional state.

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Examining Changes in the Cognitive Attentional Syndrome and Attentional Control Following Metacognitive Therapy for Children with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

et al. 2021

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Effects of attention training technique on brain function in high- and low-cognitive-attentional syndrome individuals: Regional dynamics before, during, and after a single session of ATT

Cited by 5 publications

References 81 publications

The Attention Training Technique Reduces Anxiety and Depression in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease: A Pilot Feasibility Study

The Attention Training Technique Reduces Anxiety and Depression in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease: A Pilot Feasibility Study

Neural correlates of the attention training technique as used in metacognitive therapy – A randomized sham-controlled fMRI study in healthy volunteers

Examining Changes in the Cognitive Attentional Syndrome and Attentional Control Following Metacognitive Therapy for Children with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

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