The approach-avoidance task as an online intervention in cigarette smoking: A pilot study

Bias modification training can alter approach bias and chocolate consumption

“…Some research has also demonstrated that altering approach action biases can influence consumption. In the addiction domain, Wiers et al (2010) found that approach bias modification was related to decreased consumption of alcohol in a taste test, and Wittekind, Feist, Schneider, Moritz, and Fritzsche (2015) found that approach bias modification training led to decreased cigarette consumption and dependence.…”

“…We specifically chose sweet non-chocolate foods as our comparison stimulus category, as they could be closely matched to chocolate foods (e.g., biscuits, cakes, ice-creams), and contained similar motivational relevance, which has been shown to affect training success (Eberl et al, 2013;Veling, Aarts, & Stroebe, 2013). This created a cleaner, clearer comparison of pictorial stimulus categories than the use of comparison categories like stationery items and other 'neutral' objects, as have been used in previous studies (Becker et al, 2015;Cousijn et al, 2011;Wittekind et al, 2015).…”

Reward Processing in Motivational and Affective Disorders

“…In fact, CBM training could be also quite useful in the context of tobacco-related biases, as they operate comparably to those reported in the alcohol literature. Indeed, one published study applied a computerized re-training in the context of tobacco dependence (Wittekind et al, 2014). This study found that tobacco avoidance training reduced levels of cigarette consumption and dependence.…”

Web-Based Cognitive Bias Modification Interventions for Psychiatric Disorders: Scoping Review (Preprint)

“…Across all the four studies, the mean ages of participants were in the range of forties with a predominance of females in three studies (Wittekind CE (17) reported using both a questionnaire and self-report for diagnosis. Two studies used the approach and avoidance task (13,17), and the two other studies used the attention bias modification task (15) and interpretative bias modification task respectively (15,16). (16) reported that bias modification was not effective in continued abstinence.…”

“…To date, there has since been several studies published that have evaluated the effectiveness of web-based cognitive bias modification. Wittekind CE et al (2015) (13) has previously reported how a web-based approach and avoidance task reduced cigarette consumption, cigarette dependence and compulsive drive amongst individuals who smoke. Blackwell SE et al (2015) (14) used web-based technologies for the delivery of cognitive bias modification targeting imagery and interpretation and reported that bias modification was effective in reducing anhedonia symptoms amongst individuals who were depressed.…”