Abstract

Attentional bias modification (ABM) represents one of a number of cognitive bias modification techniques which are beginning to show promise as therapeutic interventions for emotional pathology. Numerous studies with both clinical and non-clinical populations have now demonstrated that ABM can reduce emotional vulnerability. However, some recent studies have failed to achieve change in either selective attention or emotional vulnerability using ABM methodologies, including a recent randomised controlled trial by Carlbring et al. Some have sought to represent such absence of evidence as a sound basis not to further pursue ABM as an online intervention. While these findings obviously raise questions about the specific conditions under which ABM procedures will produce therapeutic benefits, we suggest that the failure of some studies to modify selective attention does not challenge the theoretical and empirical basis of ABM. The present paper seeks to put these ABM failures in perspective within the broader context of attentional bias modification research. In doing so it is apparent that the current findings and future prospects of ABM are in fact very promising, suggesting that more research in this area is warranted, not less.

Highlights

  • Attentional bias modification (ABM) is an emerging treatment approach designed to alter patterns of attentional selectivity favouring the processing of threatening information that are implicated in the development and maintenance of psychopathology, most notably anxiety disorders

  • The last 5 years has seen a rapid expansion in the volume of research examining the therapeutic benefits of ABM

  • Results have been very encouraging, with more than 20 studies demonstrating that the modification of selective attention for threat can reduce levels of anxiety vulnerability [1]

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Summary

Introduction

Attentional bias modification (ABM) is an emerging treatment approach designed to alter patterns of attentional selectivity favouring the processing of threatening information that are implicated in the development and maintenance of psychopathology, most notably anxiety disorders. * Correspondence: patrick.clarke@uwa.edu.au 1School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Western Australia, Australia Full list of author information is available at the end of the article truism reminds us not to mistake absence of evidence as evidence of absence, a recent review of ABM research appears to have made such a mistake in suggesting that current empirical findings provide reason to believe that attentional bias modification has little potential as a therapeutic tool.

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