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Banire B, Orr M, Burns H, McGowan Y, Orji R, Meier S. Smartphone-Delivered Attentional Bias Modification Training for Mental Health: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JMIR Ment Health 2024; 11:e56326. [PMID: 39222349 PMCID: PMC11406109 DOI: 10.2196/56326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Smartphone-delivered attentional bias modification training (ABMT) intervention has gained popularity as a remote solution for alleviating symptoms of mental health problems. However, the existing literature presents mixed results indicating both significant and insignificant effects of smartphone-delivered interventions. OBJECTIVE This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the impact of smartphone-delivered ABMT on attentional bias and symptoms of mental health problems. Specifically, we examined different design approaches and methods of administration, focusing on common mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, and design elements, including gamification and stimulus types. METHODS Our search spanned from 2014 to 2023 and encompassed 4 major databases: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus. Study selection, data extraction, and critical appraisal were performed independently by 3 authors using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. When necessary, we pooled the standardized mean difference with a 95% CI. In addition, we conducted sensitivity, subgroup, and meta-regression analyses to explore moderator variables of active and placebo ABMT interventions on reducing symptoms of mental health problems and attentional bias. RESULTS Our review included 12 papers, involving a total of 24,503 participants, and we were able to conduct a meta-analysis on 20 different study samples from 11 papers. Active ABMT exhibited an effect size (Hedges g) of -0.18 (P=.03) in reducing symptoms of mental health problems, while the overall effect remained significant. Similarly, placebo ABMT showed an effect size of -0.38 (P=.008) in reducing symptoms of mental health problems. In addition, active ABMT (Hedges g -0.17; P=.004) had significant effects on reducing attentional bias, while placebo ABMT did not significantly alter attentional bias (Hedges g -0.04; P=.66). CONCLUSIONS Our understanding of smartphone-delivered ABMT's potential highlights the value of both active and placebo interventions in mental health care. The insights from the moderator analysis also showed that tailoring smartphone-delivered ABMT interventions to specific threat stimuli and considering exposure duration are crucial for optimizing their efficacy. This research underscores the need for personalized approaches in ABMT to effectively reduce attentional bias and symptoms of mental health problems. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42023460749; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=460749.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilikis Banire
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Faculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Matt Orr
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada
| | - Hailey Burns
- Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Saint John, NB, Canada
| | - Youna McGowan
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Rita Orji
- Faculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Sandra Meier
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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Falcone MM, Bar-Haim Y, Lebowitz ER, Silverman WK, Pettit JW. Attention Training for Child Anxiety and Its Disorders: Moving from Research to Clinical Implementation. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 2024; 27:550-560. [PMID: 38740658 DOI: 10.1007/s10567-024-00482-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Attention training is an evidence-based, computerized treatment for anxiety and its disorders rooted in cognitive neuroscience. Though experimental research and clinical trials data on attention training in children span two decades, the literature has focused on attention training's anxiety reduction effects, with little guidance on its implementation in clinical practice. Guidance on implementation is needed given recent efforts to increase accessibility of attention training in clinical practice settings. In this article, we move from research to clinical implementation, providing guidelines with pragmatic clinical steps. We include guidance on psychoeducation, setting and delivery of sessions, potential challenges, and frequently asked questions regarding implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa M Falcone
- Department of Psychology and Center for Children and Families, Florida International University, AHC 1 249A, 11200 SW 8thStreet, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Yair Bar-Haim
- School of Psychological Sciences, Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Eli R Lebowitz
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - Wendy K Silverman
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - Jeremy W Pettit
- Department of Psychology and Center for Children and Families, Florida International University, AHC 1 249A, 11200 SW 8thStreet, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
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Rooney T, Sharpe L, Todd J, Michalski SC, Van Ryckeghem D, Crombez G, Colagiuri B. Beyond the modified dot-probe task: A meta-analysis of the efficacy of alternate attention bias modification tasks across domains. Clin Psychol Rev 2024; 110:102436. [PMID: 38696911 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2024.102436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Attention biases towards disease-relevant cues have been implicated in numerous disorders and health conditions, such as anxiety, cancer, drug-use disorders, and chronic pain. Attention bias modification (ABM) has shown that changing attention biases can change related emotional processes. ABM most commonly uses a modified dot-probe task, which has received increasing criticism regarding its reliability and inconsistent findings. The purpose of the present review was thus to systematically review and meta-analyse alternative tasks used in ABM research. We sought to examine whether alternative tasks significantly changed attention biases and emotional outcomes, and critically examined whether relevant sample, task and intervention characteristics moderated each of these effect sizes. Seventy-four (completer n = 15,294) study level comparisons were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, alternative ABM designs had a medium effect on changing biases (g = 0.488), and a small, but significant effect on improving clinical outcomes (g = 0.117). We found this effect to be significantly larger for studies which successfully changed biases compared to those that did not. Across all tasks, it appeared that targeting engagement biases results in the largest change to attention biases. Importantly, we found tasks incorporating gaze-contingency - encouraging engagement with non-biased stimuli - show the most promise for improving emotional outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Rooney
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Australia.
| | - Louise Sharpe
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Jemma Todd
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Stefan Carlo Michalski
- Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dimitri Van Ryckeghem
- Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium; Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands; Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Geert Crombez
- Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Ben Colagiuri
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Australia
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Steinglass JE, Fei W, Foerde K, Touzeau C, Ruggiero J, Lloyd C, Attia E, Wang Y, Walsh BT. Change in food choice during acute treatment and the effect on longer-term outcome in patients with anorexia nervosa. Psychol Med 2024; 54:1133-1141. [PMID: 37781904 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723002933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Restriction of food intake is a central pathological feature of anorexia nervosa (AN). Maladaptive eating behavior and, specifically, limited intake of calorie-dense foods are resistant to change and contribute to poor long-term outcomes. This study is a preliminary examination of whether change in food choices during inpatient treatment is related to longer-term clinical course. METHODS Individuals with AN completed a computerized Food Choice Task at the beginning and end of inpatient treatment to determine changes in high-fat and self-controlled food choices. Linear regression and longitudinal analyses tested whether change in task behavior predicted short-term outcome (body mass index [BMI] at discharge) and longer-term outcome (BMI and eating disorder psychopathology). RESULTS Among 88 patients with AN, BMI improved significantly with hospital treatment (p < 0.001), but Food Choice Task outcomes did not change significantly. Change in high-fat and self-controlled choices was not associated with BMI at discharge (r = 0.13, p = 0.22 and r = 0.10, p = 0.39, respectively). An increase in the proportion of high-fat foods selected (β = 0.91, p = 0.02) and a decrease in the use of self-control (β = -1.50, p = 0.001) predicted less decline in BMI over 3 years after discharge. CONCLUSIONS Short-term treatment is associated with improvement in BMI but with no significant change, on average, in choices made in a task known to predict actual eating. However, the degree to which individuals increased high-fat choices during treatment and decreased the use of self-control over food choice were associated with reduced weight loss over the following 3 years, underscoring the need to focus on changing eating behavior in treatment of AN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna E Steinglass
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Wenbo Fei
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Karin Foerde
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Caroline Touzeau
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Julia Ruggiero
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Caitlin Lloyd
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Evelyn Attia
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yuanjia Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - B Timothy Walsh
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
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Liu H, Zhang Q, Elhai JD, Montag C, Yang H. Attentional bias to threat is modulated by stimulus content: an fNIRS study. Front Hum Neurosci 2024; 17:1308457. [PMID: 38273882 PMCID: PMC10808614 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1308457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
People are evolutionarily predisposed to associate threat relevant stimuli with fear or aversiveness and show an attentional bias toward threat. Attentional bias modification (ABM) has been shown to reduce threat biases, while quantitative reviews assessing the effectiveness of bias modification yielded inconsistent results. The current study examined the relationship between the training effect of attentional bias to threat and the type of threatening stimuli. Twenty-two participants performed a modified dot-probe task while undergoing functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) imaging. Results indicated that there was a strong pattern of attentional avoidance among individuals in an animal but not human threat condition. Furthermore, findings from fNIRS confirmed that the influence from type of threatening stimulus would be modulated by cortical activation patterns, especially in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortices (vlPFC) and angular gyrus. Overall, these results suggest that stimulus-specific may play a major role in personalization of specific psychological interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hejun Liu
- Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Qihan Zhang
- Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jon D. Elhai
- Department of Psychology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Christian Montag
- Department of Molecular Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Haibo Yang
- Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
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Woronko SE, Jessup SC, Armstrong T, Anwyl-Irvine AL, Dalmaijer ES, Olatunji BO. A novel probe of attentional bias for threat in specific phobia: Application of the "MouseView.js" approach. J Anxiety Disord 2023; 96:102700. [PMID: 36965222 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023]
Abstract
Although attentional bias for threat has been implicated in anxiety disorders, traditional attentional bias measures have been criticized for lack of reliability and validity, and eye tracking technologies can be cost-prohibitive. MouseView.js was recently developed to mimic eye tracking online by using the computer cursor as a proxy for gaze, and although it is equally reliable, MouseView.js' utility for capturing attentional bias for threat in anxiety-related disorders remains unclear. To fill this knowledge gap, snake phobic and non-phobic participants (N = 62) completed a behavioral avoidance task (BAT) and the MouseView.js task which consisted of 10-second exposures to blurred, side-by-side images of either pleasant-neutral or threat-neutral pairings and were instructed to freely move the mouse to reveal the images. Results demonstrated that snake phobic participants had significantly shorter average mouse dwell time on threat images than non-phobic individuals and showed a significant reduction in average dwell time on threat images following the first presentation of the threat-neutral pairing. Additionally, dwell time on threat images significantly mediated the group differences in steps completed on the BAT. Results highlight the utility of MouseView.js in capturing avoidant patterns of attentional bias for threat that may also partially drive avoidance in snake phobia. Implications for capturing attentional bias for threat in anxiety disorders more broadly are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Woronko
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Sarah C Jessup
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | | | | | - Edwin S Dalmaijer
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Bunmi O Olatunji
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
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Zainal NH, Hellberg SN, Kabel KE, Hotchkin CM, Baker AW. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) plus attention bias modification (ABM) reduces anxiety sensitivity and depressive symptoms in panic disorder: A pilot randomized trial. Scand J Psychol 2023. [PMID: 36707979 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive bias theories propose that reducing threat hypervigilance in mental disorders can augment cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) outcomes. However, no studies have tested whether adding attention bias modification (ABM) can effectively enhance CBT's effects on anxiety sensitivity (AS), electromyography (EMG), and skin conductance (SC) for panic disorder (PD). This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) thus aimed to evaluate the efficacy of CBT + ABM (vs. CBT plus attention training placebo; PBO) on those outcomes. METHOD This study is a secondary analysis (Baker et al., 2020). Adults with PD were randomized to receive CBT + ABM (n = 11) or CBT + PBO (n = 12). Before each of the first five CBT sessions, CBT + ABM and CBT + PBO participants completed a 15-min ABM task or attention training PBO, respectively. AS and depression severity as well as SC and EMG during habituation to a loud-tone startle paradigm were assessed. Hierarchical Bayesian analyses were conducted. RESULTS During pre-post-treatment and pre-follow-up, CBM + ABM (vs. CBT + PBO) led to a notably greater reduction in ASI-Physical (between-group d = -1.26 to -1.25), ASI-Cognitive (d = -1.16 to -1.10), and depression severity (d = -1.23 to -0.99). However, no between-group difference was observed for ASI-Social, EMG, or SC indices. DISCUSSION Adding a brief computerized ABM intervention to CBT for PD protocols may enhance therapeutic change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Hani Zainal
- Department of Healthcare Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samantha N Hellberg
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Katherine E Kabel
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Claire M Hotchkin
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amanda W Baker
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Trapp W, Heid A, Röder S, Wimmer F, Hajak G. Cognitive Remediation in Psychiatric Disorders: State of the Evidence, Future Perspectives, and Some Bold Ideas. Brain Sci 2022; 12:683. [PMID: 35741569 PMCID: PMC9221116 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12060683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Many people with psychiatric disorders experience impairments in cognition. These deficits have a significant impact on daily functioning and sometimes even on the further course of their disease. Cognitive remediation (CR) is used as an umbrella term for behavioral training interventions to ameliorate these deficits. In most but not all studies, CR has proven effective in improving cognition and enhancing everyday functional outcomes. In this paper, after quickly summarizing the empirical evidence, practical advice to optimize the effects of CR interventions is provided. We advocate that CR interventions should be as fun and motivating as possible, and therapists should at least consider using positively toned emotional stimuli instead of neutral stimuli. Participants should be screened for basic processing deficits, which should be trained before CR of higher-order cognitive domains. CR should stimulate metacognition and utilize natural settings to invoke social cognition. Wherever possible, CR tasks should link to tasks that participants face in their everyday life. Therapists should consider that participants might also benefit from positive side effects on symptomatology. Finally, the CR approach might even be utilized in settings where the treatment of cognitive impairments is not a primary target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Trapp
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Social Foundation Bamberg, 96049 Bamberg, Germany
- Fachhochschule des Mittelstands, Department of Psychology, University of Applied Sciences, 96050 Bamberg, Germany
| | - Andreas Heid
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Social Foundation Bamberg, 96049 Bamberg, Germany
| | - Susanne Röder
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Social Foundation Bamberg, 96049 Bamberg, Germany
| | - Franziska Wimmer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Social Foundation Bamberg, 96049 Bamberg, Germany
| | - Göran Hajak
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Social Foundation Bamberg, 96049 Bamberg, Germany
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