Eye-Tracking Based Attention Bias Modification (ET-ABM) Facilitates Disengagement from Negative Stimuli in Dysphoric Individuals

Martin Möbius,Eni S Becker,Mike Rinck,Robin Van Den Bergh,Gina R A Ferrari

doi:10.1007/s10608-018-9889-6

Martin Möbius, Eni S Becker + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-018-9889-6

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Abstract

To address shortcomings of purely reaction-time based attention bias modification (ABM) paradigms, a novel eye-tracking based ABM training (ET-ABM) was developed. This training targets the late disengagement from negative stimuli and the lack of attention for positive information, which are characteristics of depression. In the present study, 75 dysphoric students (BDI ≥ 9) were randomly assigned to either this positive training (PT), or a sham-training (ST) that did not train any valence-specific gaze pattern (positive and negative pictures had to be disengaged from and attended to equally often). Results showed that the PT induced a positive attentional bias (longer fixations of positive than negative pictures). Although the ST group showed an increase in positive attentional bias as well, this increase was not as strong as in the PT group. Compared to the ST, the PT specifically induced faster disengagement from negative pictures. No differential training effects were found on stress responses or state rumination. These results show that the ET-ABM successfully modifies attentional processes, specifically late disengagement from negative stimuli, in dysphoric students, and hence might be a promising alternative to existing ABM paradigms.

Highlights

With more than 300 million people suffering from depression worldwide, it is amongst the most prevalent mental disorders and, according to the World Health Organization (WHO 2017), has become the leading cause of disabilities, with a major contribution to the overall global disease burden
Another 3 participants were excluded due to a lack of task adherence, and another 5 due to extreme values on the eye-tracking indices
While happiness ratings remained unaffected by the speech task, F(2, 67) = 0.7 p = .449, anxiety and sadness ratings changed throughout the speech task (Anxiety: F(2,67) = 14.25, p < .001, η2 = .3; Sadness: F(2,67) = 10.03, p < .001, η2 = .23)

Summary

Introduction

With more than 300 million people suffering from depression worldwide, it is amongst the most prevalent mental disorders and, according to the World Health Organization (WHO 2017), has become the leading cause of disabilities, with a major contribution to the overall global disease burden. Despite the variety of existing treatment options for depression, relapse rates are high (e.g., about 30% as reported in Seemüller et al 2014), with an increasing risk of recurrent depression with each subsequent depressive episode (Steinert et al 2014). This suggests that the underlying mechanisms which maintain depression are not very well understood yet, and may not be targeted sufficiently by current treatment programs. At the same time, depressed individuals show reduced maintained attention to positive stimuli, compared to healthy individuals (e.g., Ellis et al 2010; Kellough et al 2008; Sears et al 2010)

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