Too Much of a Good Thing: Testing the Efficacy of a Cognitive Bias Modification Task for Cognitively Vulnerable Individuals

Haeffel, Gerald J.; Rozek, David C.; Hames, Jennifer L.; Technow, Jessica R.

doi:10.1007/s10608-011-9379-6

Cited by 26 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 44 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In addition, positive ABM using faces (but not words) reduced two risk measures of depressive recurrence, 56 and participants in the attend group reported fewer depressive symptoms and had greater persistence on a difficult laboratory task. 57 In contrast, all six studies that compared attend groups with control groups found an effect of ABM. Two of these studies manipulated the attend group to threat or negative stimuli 39,40 and four, to positive stimuli.…”

Section: Depressionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Positive results were found in both studies that used attend (to positive) and control groups. 56,57 Both reported differences between groups, as participants in the attend groups were much more likely to attend to adaptive stimuli relative to maladaptive stimuli than participants in the control group. In addition, positive ABM using faces (but not words) reduced two risk measures of depressive recurrence, 56 and participants in the attend group reported fewer depressive symptoms and had greater persistence on a difficult laboratory task.…”

Section: Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Attentional bias modification based on visual probe task: methodological issues, results and clinical relevance

Lopes

Viacava

Bizarro

2015

Trends Psychiatry Psychother.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction: Attentional bias, the tendency that a person has to drive or maintain attention to a specific class of stimuli, may play an important role in the etiology and persistence of mental disorders. Attentional bias modification has been studied as a form of additional treatment related to automatic processing. Objectives: This systematic literature review compared and discussed methods, evidence of success and potential clinical applications of studies about attentional bias modification (ABM) using a visual probe task. Methods: The Web of Knowledge, PubMed and PsycInfo were searched using the keywords attentional bias modification, attentional bias manipulation and attentional bias training. We selected empirical studies about ABM training using a visual probe task written in English and published between 2002 and 2014. Results: Fifty-seven studies met inclusion criteria. Most (78%) succeeded in training attention in the predicted direction, and in 71% results were generalized to other measures correlated with the symptoms. Conclusions: ABM has potential clinical utility, but to standardize methods and maximize applicability, future studies should include clinical samples and be based on findings of studies about its effectiveness.

show abstract

Section: Depressionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attentional bias modification based on visual probe task: methodological issues, results and clinical relevance

Lopes

Viacava

Bizarro

2015

Trends Psychiatry Psychother.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Yet, only a few ABM studies have been conducted in depression so far and, with rare exceptions [36, 37], most involved healthy participants scoring high on questionnaire measures of depression [38–42]. Moreover, literature reviews of ABM efficacy in emotional disorders have found inconsistent results.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These procedures are based on a model of automatization as a way to modify cognition [49]. ABM training typically consists of hundreds [39, 41], or thousands [37, 42], of repetitive trials taking the procedure from one single session [38, 39] to several weeks [36, 41, 42]. ABM is accordingly very tedious which may impair the efficacy of cognitive training.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attentional bias modification in depression through gaze contingencies and regulatory control using a new eye-tracking intervention paradigm: study protocol for a placebo-controlled trial

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundAttentional biases, namely difficulties both to disengage attention from negative information and to maintain it on positive information, play an important role in the onset and maintenance of the disorder. Recently, researchers have developed specific attentional bias modification (ABM) techniques aimed to modify these maladaptive attentional patterns. However, the application of current ABM procedures has yielded, so far, scarce results in depression due, in part, to some methodological shortcomings.The aim of our protocol is the application of a new ABM technique, based on eye-tracker technology, designed to objectively train the specific attentional components involved in depression and, eventually, to reduce depressive symptoms.MethodsBased on sample size calculations, 32 dysphoric (BDI ≥13) participants will be allocated to either an active attentional bias training group or a yoked-control group. Attentional training will be individually administered on two sessions in two consecutive days at the lab. In the training task series of pairs of faces (i.e. neutral vs. sad; neutral vs. happy; happy vs. sad) will be displayed. Participants in the training group will be asked to localize as quickly as possible the most positive face of the pair (e.g., the neutral face in neutral vs. sad trials) and maintain their gaze on it for 750 ms or 1500 ms, in two different blocks, to advance to the next trial. Participants’ maintenance of gaze will be measured by an eye-tracking apparatus. Participants in the yoked-control group will be exposed to the same stimuli and the same average amount of time than the experimental participants but without any instruction to maintain their gaze or any feedback on their performance. Pre and post training measures will be obtained to assess cognitive and emotional changes after the training.DiscussionThe findings from this research will provide a proof-of-principle of the efficacy of eye-tracking paradigms to modify attentional biases and, consequently, to improve depressed mood. If the findings are positive, this new training approach may result in the improvement of cognitive bias modification procedures in depression.Trial registrationThis trial was retrospectively registered on July 28, 2016 with the ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02847793 registration number and the title ‘Attentional Bias Modification Through Eye-tracker Methodology (ABMET)’.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12888-016-1150-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

show abstract

“…However, considering the global challenge raised by depression, there is a need to develop strategies that produce more enduring preventative effects [21]. Using insights from the theories at the basis of the best empirically supported psychological treatments available nowadays, such strategies should comprehensively target (1) cognitive factors such as negative attitudes or cognitive inflexibility [24–27], and (2) social stressors and behavioral factors that can activate and/or exacerbate depressive symptoms [21]. In addition, innovative methods designed to facilitate the efficient implementation and dissemination of evidence-based prevention strategies are needed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using a smartphone app to reduce cognitive vulnerability and mild depressive symptoms: Study protocol of an exploratory randomized controlled trial

Giosan

Cobeanu

Mogoaşe

et al. 2016

Trials

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundDepression is a major challenge worldwide, with significant increasing personal, economic, and societal costs. Although empirically supported treatments have been developed, they are not always available for patients in routine clinical care. Therefore, we need effective and widely accessible strategies to prevent the onset of the very first depressive symptoms. Mental health apps could prove a valuable solution for this desideratum. Although preliminary research has indicated that such apps can be useful in treating depression, no study has attempted to test their utility in preventing depressive symptoms. The aim of this exploratory study is to contrast the efficacy of a smartphone app in reducing cognitive vulnerability and mild depressive symptoms, as risk factors for the onset of depression, against a wait-list condition. More specifically, we aim to test an app designed to (1) decrease general cognitive vulnerability and (2) promote engagement in protective, adaptive activities, while (3) counteracting (through gamification and customization) the tendency of premature dropout from intervention.Methods/designRomanian-speaking adults (18 years and older) with access to a computer and the Internet and who own a smartphone are included in the study. Two parallel randomized clinical trials are conducted: in the first one, 50 participants free of depressive symptoms (i.e., who obtain scores ≤4 on the Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9) will be included, while in the second one 50 participants with minimal depressive symptoms (i.e., who obtain PHQ-9 scores between 5 and 9) will be included. Participants undergoing therapy, presenting with substance abuse problems, psychotic symptoms, and organic brain disorders, or serious legal or health issues that would prevent them from using the app, as well as participants reporting suicidal ideation are excluded. Participants randomized to the active intervention will autonomously use the smartphone app for 4 weeks, while the others will be given access to the app after 4 weeks from randomization. The primary outcomes are (1) cognitive vulnerability factors as defined within the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) paradigm (i.e., dysfunctional cognitions, irrational beliefs, and negative automatic thoughts) (for the first trial), and (2) level of depressive symptomatology (for the second trial). The app includes self-help materials and exercises based on CBT for depression, presented in a tailored manner and incorporating gamification elements aimed at boosting motivation to use the app.DiscussionThis study protocol is the first to capitalize on the ubiquity of smartphones to large-scale dissemination of CBT-based strategies aimed at preventing depression in non-clinical populations.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02783118. Registered on 26 May 2016.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-016-1740-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

show abstract

Too Much of a Good Thing: Testing the Efficacy of a Cognitive Bias Modification Task for Cognitively Vulnerable Individuals

Cited by 26 publications

References 44 publications

Attentional bias modification based on visual probe task: methodological issues, results and clinical relevance

Attentional bias modification based on visual probe task: methodological issues, results and clinical relevance

Attentional bias modification in depression through gaze contingencies and regulatory control using a new eye-tracking intervention paradigm: study protocol for a placebo-controlled trial

Using a smartphone app to reduce cognitive vulnerability and mild depressive symptoms: Study protocol of an exploratory randomized controlled trial

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About