Reduction In Attentional Bias Research Articles

Sustained reduction of attentional bias to smoking cues by smartphone-delivered attentional bias modification training for smokers.

Cigarette smoking is thought to be at least partially maintained by the attentional bias (AB) toward smoking cues that develops as a consequence of drug dependence. This study evaluated the impact of smartphone-delivered, in-home attentional bias modification (ABM) to reduce AB to smoking cues and to reduce smoking behavior and withdrawal-related symptoms when used as an adjunct to conventional smoking cessation treatment. Participants (N = 246) were treatment-seeking smokers who completed up to 13 days of either ABM designed to train attention away from smoking cues, using a modified dot-probe task, or sham training, followed by 8 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy and counseling. Outcomes measured at baseline, 1-day post-ABM training, and 8 weeks post-ABM training included AB to smoking images and words using the dot-probe and smoking Stroop tasks, respectively, along with cigarettes per day, craving, and smoking abstinence. We found that ABM training reduced AB to smoking stimuli on both the dot-probe task, ηp² = 0.056, 90% CI [0.024, 0.097], and the smoking Stroop task, ηp² = 0.017, 90% CI [0.002, 0.044], up to 8 weeks after ABM training when covarying for baseline response, but did not concurrently decrease smoking behavior or craving. Thirteen days of smartphone-delivered ABM training, as an adjunct to smoking cessation treatment, reduced AB to both modality-specific and cross-modality smoking cues but did not impact smoking-related behavior. While ABM can reduce AB to smoking cues across modalities, it is unclear whether it has therapeutic potential as an adjunct to conventional smoking cessation therapy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Effectiveness of Attention Control Training on Attentional Bias Towards Death, Death Anxiety, and Sensitivity to Mortality Salience

Background and Aim: Attention Control Training is a new cognitive intervention that improves emotion regulation by reducing attentional bias towards negative information. Given the significant association between death anxiety and emotion dysregulation and death-related attentional bias, this study aimed to assess attention control training as an intervention for reducing death anxiety. Methods & Materials: In this clinical trial, the Convenience Sampling Method sampled 50 university students in Tehran and was randomly assigned to 2 experimental and 1 control groups. Attention control training was delivered using death-related stimuli for the 1st experimental group and negative stimuli unrelated to death for the 2nd experimental group. The control group didn’t receive any interventions. In 3 measurements of pretest, posttest, and 3 months follow-up, death-related attentional bias, death anxiety, and sensitivity to mortality salience were assessed, respectively, using the Modified Stroop Test, Multidimensional Fear of Death Scale (MFODS), and Propensity to Moral Disengagement Scale (PMDS) after inducing Mortality Salience condition. Ethical Considerations: This study was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (Code: IRCT20190406043181N1) and was approved by the research ethics committee of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (Code: IR.SBMU.MSP.REC.1398.539). Results: The study showed that after completing attention control training, the 1st experimental group’s death-related attentional bias, death anxiety, and sensitivity to mortality salience were significantly reduced (P<0.05), and this reduction was maintained at 3 months of follow-up. No significant changes were observed in the other two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that attention control training is capable of significantly reducing death-related attentional bias, and this reduction in attentional bias leads to decreased death anxiety and sensitivity to mortality salience

Reduction of attentional bias through gradual signal change

Reduction of attentional bias through gradual signal change

A Smartphone Attention Bias Intervention for Individuals With Addictive Disorders: Protocol for a Feasibility Study.

BackgroundSubstance use disorders are highly prevalent globally. Relapse rates following conventional psychological interventions for substance use disorders remain high. Recent reviews have highlighted attentional and approach or avoidance biases to be responsible for multiple relapses. Other studies have reported the efficacy of interventions to modify biases. With advances in technologies, there are now mobile versions of conventional bias modification interventions. However, to date, no study has evaluated bias modification in a substance-using, non-Western sample. Existing evaluations of mobile technologies for the delivery of bias interventions are also limited to alcohol or tobacco use disorders.ObjectiveThis study aims to examine the feasibility of mobile-based attention bias modification intervention among treatment-seeking individuals with substance use and alcohol use disorders.MethodsThis is a feasibility study, in which inpatients who are in their rehabilitation phase of clinical management will be recruited. On each day that they are in the study, they will be required to complete a craving visual analogue scale and undertake both a visual probe-based assessment and and modification task in a smartphone app . Reaction time data will be collated for the computation of baseline attentional biases and to determine whether there is a reduction of attentional bias across the interventions. Feasibility will be determined by the number of participants recruited and participants’ adherence to the planned interventions up until the completion of their rehabilitation program and by the ability of the app in detecting baseline biases and changes in biases. Acceptability of the intervention will be assessed by a short questionnaire of users’ perceptions of the intervention. Statistical analyses will be performed using SPSS version 22.0, while qualitative analysis of the perspectives will be performed using NVivo version 10.0.ResultsThis study was approved by the National Healthcare Group Domain Specific Research Board, with approval number (2018/00316). Results will be disseminated by means of conferences and publications.Currently, we are in the process of recruitment for this study.ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a mobile attention bias modification intervention for individuals with substance use disorders. The data pertaining to the feasibility and acceptability are undoubtedly crucial because they imply the potential use of mobile technologies in retraining attentional biases among inpatients admitted for medical-assisted detoxification and rehabilitation. Participants’ feedback pertaining to the ease of use, interactivity, and motivation to continue using the app is crucial because it will determine whether a codesign approach might be warranted to design an app that is acceptable for participants and that participants themselves would be motivated to use.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)PRR1-10.2196/11822

Winning or not losing? The impact of non-pain goal focus on attentional bias to learned pain signals.

Background and aims Insights into the nature of cognitive bias, including attentional bias to threat signals, are considered pivotal to understanding (chronic) pain and related distress. It has been put forward that attention to pain-related threat is normally dynamic and relates to the motivational state of the individual. In this experiment we aimed (i) to replicate the finding that attentional bias for pain signals in healthy participants can be reduced when a non-pain goal is pursued, and (ii) to extend this finding by taking into account the outcome focus of the non-pain goal. We hypothesised that the reduction in attentional bias for pain signals by concurrent non-pain goal pursuit would be stronger with non-pain prevention goals than with promotion goals. Methods Healthy university students performed an attentional bias task (i.e. spatial cueing task) containing visual cues that signalled the possible occurrence of a painful stimulus (electrocutaneous stimulus at tolerance level) or its absence, in combination with a non-pain goal task (i.e. digit naming task). The non-pain goal was either related to acquiring a positive outcome (gaining money depending on digit-naming performance; promotion goal group, n=31) or related to avoiding a negative outcome (losing money; prevention goal group, n=31). A standard attentional bias task served as the control condition (control group, n=31). Results Spatial cueing effects were larger for pain cues than for no-pain cues, indicating attentional bias for pain signals. The pattern of results suggests that this effect was indeed reduced in the goal groups as compared to the control group, but there was no significant group difference. Conclusions We found no statistically-significant evidence for the impact of non-pain goal pursuit or outcome focus on pain-related attentional bias. At best, there were indications of a reduced attentional bias for pain signals with non-pain goal pursuit that was either promotion- or prevention focused. Implications These data add to the small but growing body of literature on the assumed relevance of motivational context in explaining variations in attentional bias. The results trigger new questions on the nature and assessment of pain-related attentional bias, and more specifically attentional bias for fear-conditioned pain signals (versus safety signals), from a motivational perspective.

Stimulating the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex reduces attentional bias for intergroup threat

Attentional bias (AB) towards threat is a common phenomenon in the context of intergroup threat, which plays an important role of protection for individuals. However, sustaining attentional bias towards the information of intergroup threat has a lot of negative effects on people’s life and social interaction. For example, it not only occupies cognitive resources, but also brings anxiety and interferences with individual’s judgment, even causes conflicts and contradictions among groups. So, it is significant to reduce excessive attention bias toward intergroup threat appropriately for the effective communication and cooperation among individuals and groups. According to Neurocognitive models of selective attention to threat, the allocation of attention in the presence of threat is regulated by two primary neural systems: a bottom-up amygdala-based system and a top-down system relying on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and anterior cingulate cortices (ACC). The first system would be related to the rapid response to the perceived salience of threatening stimuli in the environment, while the second system would be related to attentional control, responsible for regulating the attention to threatening stimuli. In this perspective, the attentional bias towards threat would be related to an increase of amygdala activation and a reduced activity of the DLPFC. What’s more, reducing AB via attention bias modification (ABM) procedures is associated with increased activation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). These suggested that DLPFC, in particular in the left hemisphere, is involved in the attentional control in presence of threatening stimuli. Therefore, in the present study, the causal role of the left DLPFC on AB towards intergroup threat was investigated by using the transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) technique during the completion of a dot-probe measure task. The transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), another non-invasive method of brain stimulation, which is able to reach the modulation of the cortical activities t through electrodes positioned over one’s scalp. Anodal stimulation facilitates cortical activity, whereas cathodal stimulation has opposite effects. In the present study, to stimulate the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the anode electrode was positioned centered over the F3 according to the 10–20 international system and the reference electrode was placed at the ipsilateral arm. The results are as follows: compared to the sham stimulation; anodal tDCS exhibited a significant reduction in attentional bias towards intergroup threat. Further, the reaction time of target after threatening group significantly shorter than that after non-threatening group in sham group; we didn’t find attentional Bias for Intergroup threat in anodal group. Finds suggested that Anodal tDCS over the left DLPFC can reduce attentional bias to intergroup threat.

Drug Stroop: Mechanisms of response to computerized cognitive behavioral therapy for cocaine dependence in a randomized clinical trial

BackgroundPoor performance on Drug Stroop tasks, which could indicate attentional bias to drug-related cues, craving, poor cognitive control (including poor response inhibition), has been associated with substance use severity, treatment retention and substance use treatment outcomes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on training in appraisal and coping strategies, including strategies to minimize the negative impact of triggers and coping with drug-cue-induced craving. One mechanism of action of CBT may be the strengthening of cognitive control processes and reduction of attentional bias to drug-related stimuli. MethodsMethadone-maintained individuals with cocaine-use disorders, participating in a randomized controlled trial of treatment as usual (TAU) versus TAU plus access to computer-based CBT (CBT4CBT), completed a computerized Drug Stroop task at pre- and post-treatment. Analyses determined whether attentional bias toward drug-related stimuli changed differentially by treatment group or cocaine use outcomes across the treatment period and whether engagement in components of CBT4CBT or TAU treatment related to changes in attentional bias toward drug-related stimuli at post- versus pre-treatment. ResultsParticipants achieving a longer duration of cocaine abstinence during treatment (3+ weeks) showed greater reductions in Drug Stroop Effect than those with shorter maximum continuous abstinence. Reductions in Drug Stroop Effect across treatment were associated with greater engagement with CBT4CBT-specific treatment components, but not TAU-specific treatment components. ConclusionsReduction in attentional bias to drug-related cues and craving and/or improved executive cognitive control and response inhibition may contribute to the mechanism of action of CBT4CBT.

Can attentional bias modification inoculate people to withstand exposure to real-world food cues?

Two experiments investigated whether attentional bias modification can inoculate people to withstand exposure to real-world appetitive food cues, namely television advertisements for chocolate products. Using a modified dot probe task, undergraduate women were trained to direct their attention toward (attend) or away from (avoid) chocolate pictures. Experiment 1 (N = 178) consisted of one training session; Experiment 2 (N = 161) included 5 weekly sessions. Following training, participants viewed television advertisements of chocolate or control products. They then took part in a so-called taste test as a measure of chocolate consumption. Attentional bias for chocolate was measured before training and after viewing the advertisements, and in Experiment 2 also at 24-h and 1-week follow-up. In Experiment 2, but not Experiment 1, participants in the avoid condition showed a significant reduction in attentional bias for chocolate, regardless of whether they had been exposed to advertisements for chocolate or control products. However, this inoculation effect on attentional bias did not generalise to chocolate intake. Future research involving more extensive attentional re-training may be needed to ascertain whether the inoculation effect on attentional bias can extend to consumption, and thus help people withstand exposure to real-world palatable food cues.

Structural MRI-based measures of neuroplasticity in an extended amygdala network as a target for attention bias modification treatment outcome

Increased attentional bias to threat has been identified as a causal mechanism in the development of anxiety. As such, attention bias modification (ABM) was conceived as a treatment option where anxiety is alleviated through a computerized cognitive training regimen that reduces an individual’s attentional bias to threat. Although ABM appears to be a promising treatment option for anxiety, the mechanism of action by which the treatment is effective is unknown. We hypothesize that effective ABM treatment is associated with neuroplasticity-related structural changes in an extended amygdala – prefrontal cortex network that can be detected with standard T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Literature regarding [1] effects of brain damage on attention bias, [2] functional neuroimaging of attention bias, [3] structural neuroimaging of attention bias, and [4] functional neuroimaging of ABM training all support the role of this network as the underlying mechanism of attention bias behavior and neuroplasticity-related changes in attentional bias. Additionally, we provide proof of principle pilot data that ABM training reduces MRI measures of gray matter volume in the basal forebrain/extended amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex. Greater reduction in gray matter volume corresponds to greater reduction in attentional bias. In addition, level of pre-training bias appears to be a strong indicator of treatment outcome. In short, we provide converging evidence for the hypothesis that the mechanism underlying effective ABM training is reduced gray matter volume in an extended amygdala network. MRI-based measures of neuroplasticity in this network could be an important target outcome for the treatment of anxiety with ABM.

Attention Control and Attention to Emotional Stimuli in Anxious Children Before and After Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

This study investigated attention control and attentional bias for emotional stimuli in children with anxiety disorders, compared with disorder-free children. Furthermore, it examined the effect of individual cognitive behavioral therapy on these attentional variables in anxious children. Participants included 22 anxious and 20 control children (aged 7–12 years; 50 % female). Attention control was measured using a partial report-by-color task based on the theory of visual attention, which assesses ability to focus on task-relevant information and resist distraction by non-emotional task-irrelevant information. Attentional bias for emotional faces was assessed using a visual probe task with angry, happy, and neutral faces. Anxious and control children were assessed at baseline (pre-treatment) and, in addition, anxious children were re-assessed post-treatment and at 6 months following treatment. Before treatment, children with clinical anxiety showed poorer attention control and greater attentional bias for emotional faces in comparison to control children. Following treatment, anxious children showed a significant reduction in attentional bias for emotional faces, and a trend for improvement in attention control. There was no significant change in attentional bias or attention control between post-treatment and 6-months follow-up assessments. Findings contribute to prior research by showing that clinically anxious children exhibit both increased attention to emotional information and impaired attention control, and that following treatment their attentional bias and attention control are comparable with those of control children. Further research is required to clarify the extent to which changes in attentional functioning relate to the maintenance of anxiety disorders and responsiveness to treatment.

Attentional bias to alcohol-related stimuli as an indicator of changes in motivation to drink.

Heavy drinkers show an attentional bias toward alcohol-related visual cues. A recent study in our laboratory (Weafer & Fillmore, 2013) showed that alcohol decreases attentional bias among heavy drinkers, suggesting that alcohol satiates motivation to drink in heavy drinkers. Little is known, however, about how this satiety effect might change across the time course of the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) curve. It is possible that attentional bias may return later in the time course if the satiety effect begins to diminish. The current study tested this hypothesis in a group of high-risk binge drinkers (n = 20). Participants completed a visual-probe task to measure their attentional bias and a self-report measure of their desire for alcohol after receiving 0.64 g/kg and 0.0 g/kg alcohol (placebo) during separate dose challenge sessions. The measures were obtained during the ascending limb of the BAC curve under alcohol (Test 1) and again during the descending limb (Test 2) at a comparable BAC. The measures also were obtained at the same times following placebo. Under alcohol, no attentional bias was observed during Test 1, but drinkers reported increased desire to drink. During Test 2, attentional bias was evident, but participants reported less desire to drink. Attentional bias was not correlated with desire to drink at any time point. Following placebo, attentional bias was evident during both tests. These findings show that alcohol causes a temporary reduction of attentional bias among heavy drinkers. These changes do not correspond with their self-reported motivation to drink.

Studying the effectiveness of Group Therapy Based Life Enrichment and Enhancement Program on improvement of Therapeutic Indicates of Addiction in Dependent Men to Opiate

Abstract Background and aim: Despite significant advances in the field of detoxification and maintenance treatment, findings imply high rates of treatment failure and increase in the relapse even with the early success in detoxification. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of group therapy based life enrichment and enhancement program on improving of therapeutic indices of addiction in dependent men to opium. Material and methods: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was used.The sample of the study consisted of 24 male substance abusers who were receiving methadone treatment in Iran Pak clinic , in Mashhad city. They were selected by convince method and randomly assigned in two experimental and control groups. Participants of experimental group attended in life enrichment and enhancement program for 5 sessions. Data were collected by 3 instruments : Personal Concerns Inventory, The Satisfaction with Life Scale and Craving and Temptation Scale which were completed by both groups before and after intervention. Data were analyzed by SPSS-18. Finding: Findings showed that the life enrichment and enhancement program significantly improved adaptive motivational structure score (P<0.01) and life satisfaction score (p<0.05) in intervention group. The LEEP also significantly decreased the craving and temptation scores in intervention group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Group therapy based Life enrichment and enhancement program can be an effective method in promotion of motivational structure, satisfaction with life and also reduction of temptation of drug abuse in men substance abusers who are under methadone treatment. Key words: Life Enrichment and Enhancement Program, Group therapy, Addiction, Opiate, The Satisfaction with Life, Temptation. REFERENCES Abdolhoseini, F (2009) [Comparative Study of Life Enhancement and Advancement Programme (LEAP) and REBT on Improving the Therapeutic Indices of Female Drug Abusers] (Dissertation). Mashhad: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. (Persian) Bahrami E (2011) [Addiction and Prevention Process]. Tehran: The Organization for Researching and Composing University Textbooks in the Humanities (Samt). (Persian) Bayani. A A, Mohammad Koocheky A, Goodarzi H (2007) [The reliability and validity of the satisfaction with life scale]. Journal of Iranian Psychologists . 3(11) 259-265. (Persian) Cox W M and Klinger E (1988) A motivational model of alcohol use. Journal of Abnormal Psychology . 97(2) 168-80. Cox W M and Klinger E (2002) Motivational structure: Relationships with substance use and processes of change. Addictive Behaviors . 27(6) 925-940. Diener E, et al (1985) The Satisfaction with Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment . 49 (1)71-75. Fadardi J S (2003) Motivational and Cognitive Determinants of Attentional Bias for Alcohol-Related Stimuli: Implications for a New Attentional-training . (Dissertation). Bangor: University of Wales. Fadardi J S and Cox W M (2008) Alcohol-attentional bias and motivational structure as independent predictors of social drinkers alcohol consumption. Draug and Alcohol Dependence . 97(3) 247-256. Fadardi J S, Cox W M and Klinger E (2006) Life Enrichment and Advancement Program (Leap): A self- Help Manual for Reducing Your Need to Drink . University of wales, Bangor,Uk. 85 150-155. Fadardi J S, Ziaee S S and Barerfan Z (2008). [The Persian Post-Detoxification Craving and Temptation Scale]. Mashhad:Unpublished Manual. Faul F, et al., (2007) G*Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysis program for the social behavioral and biomedical sciences. Behavior Research Methods . 39 (2)175-191. Fleming M F, Barry K L (1998). Addictive Disorders . Mosby Year Book. Goodarzi N, et al (2008) [The effectiveness of group contracting and behavioural activation therapy on opioid substance use disorders]. Contemporary Psychology 3(1) 3-13. (Persian) Mohammadi M, Dahganpoor M (2004) [Psychopathology of substance abuse]. National Institute of Drug Studies: Ayene book. (Persian) Mozaffari S H (2003) [Personality correlates of subjective happiness among students of Shiraz University based on The five factor model]. (Dissertation). Shiraz: Shiraz University. (Persian) Raadi M, Rezaie R (2001) [prevention of addiction special for families, Preventive cultural Administration of kurdestan rehabilitation org]. (Persian) Rahimi M M K, Mohammad K, Razaghi E M (2002) [The 30- year- old process of drug usage in Iran]. Hakim Research Journal . 5 (3) 171-182. (Persian) Shamloo Z S and Cox W M (2009) The relationship between motivational structure, sense of control, intrinsic motivation and university students’ alcohol consumption. ive Behaviorss. 35(2) 140-146. Ziaee S S (2009) [Effect of attention control training on the reduction of attentional bias in drug abusers]. (Dissertation). Mashhad: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. (Persian)

Attentional Bias Modification in Dutch Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder—A Case Series With a Personalized Treatment Version

Beneficial effects of attentional bias modification have been claimed for a number of anxiety disorders, but study results are variable. A recent trial in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) showed no therapeutic effects. The use of personally relevant and verbal stimuli might increase the efficacy of attentional bias modification. In an A-B case series design, we hypothesized that individualized attentional bias modification would lead to reduction of attentional bias and a decrease in PTSD symptoms. Six Dutch male war veterans (mean age 39.33 years) who had developed PTSD after peacekeeping missions underwent the treatment. No therapeutic effects were observed. Inter- and intraindividual attentional bias scores varied widely and did not respond to attentional bias modification as hypothesized. This study provides no evidence that individualized attentional bias modification is an effective treatment for PTSD.

Relationship between meditation experience and attentional bias to chocolate

Meditation practice usually includes attentional training. As such, it may influence attentional bias to emotionally arousing stimuli. This study examined differences in attentional bias to chocolate-related stimuli between those who regularly practice meditation (experienced, n = 48, novice, n = 39) and those who do not (controls, n = 38). Attentional bias was measured using emotional Stroop and dot-probe (100, 500 and 2000 ms durations) tasks, completed after a period of fasting. Compared to controls, meditators showed a higher attentional bias on the dot-probe at 100 ms, but a lower attentional bias at 2000 ms, though these results failed to reach statistical significance. No significant differences were found using the Stroop task. Analysis of the relationship between predicted mediators (self-reported mindfulness, attentional control and self-regulation scores) and dot-probe measures showed significant positive correlations at 2000 ms for non-meditators. For meditators there were no significant correlations between the mediator and the dot-probe measures, though there was a pattern of positive correlations at 100 ms and negative correlations at 2000 ms. These findings suggest that although meditation practice does not result in an overall reduction in attentional bias to chocolate, it may reduce the delay between stimulus onset and bias. Further research would be needed to confirm this possibility.

Changes in cue reactivity and attentional bias following experimental cue exposure and response prevention: a laboratory study of the effects of d-cycloserine in heavy drinkers

The effects of D-cycloserine (DCS) in animal models of anxiety disorders and addiction indicate a role for N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in extinction learning. Exposure/response prevention treatments for anxiety disorders in humans are enhanced by DCS, suggesting a promising co-therapy regime, mediated by NMDA receptors. Exposure/response prevention may also be effective in problematic drinkers, and DCS might enhance habituation to cues in these individuals. Since heavy drinkers show ostensible conditioned responses to alcohol cues, habituation following exposure/response prevention should be evident in these drinkers, with DCS enhancing this effect. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of DCS on exposure/response prevention in heavy drinkers. In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, heavy social drinkers recruited from the community received either DCS (125 mg; n = 19) or placebo (n = 17) 1 h prior to each of two sessions of exposure/response prevention. Cue reactivity and attentional bias were assessed during these two sessions and at a third follow-up session. Between-session drinking behaviour was recorded. Robust cue reactivity and attentional bias to alcohol cues was evident, as expected of heavy drinkers. Within- and between-session habituation of cue reactivity, as well as a reduction in attentional bias to alcohol cues over time was found. However, there was no evidence of greater habituation in the DCS group. Subtle stimulant effects (increased subjective contentedness and euphoria) which were unrelated to exposure/response prevention were found following DCS. DCS does not appear to enhance habituation of alcohol cue reactivity in heavy non-dependent drinkers. Its utility in enhancing treatments based on exposure/response prevention in dependent drinkers or drug users remains open.

EMDR for Childhood PTSD After Road Traffic Accidents: Attentional, Memory, and Attributional Processes

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) was used with 11 children who developed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after road traffic accidents. All improved such that none met criteria for PTSD on standardized assessments after an average of only 2.4 sessions. Significant improvements in PTSD, anxiety, and depression were found both immediately after treatment and at follow-up. Attentional, memory, and attributional processes associated with PTSD were assessed and their relationship to therapeutic change examined. Treatment was associated with a significant trauma-specific reduction in attentional bias on the modified Stroop task, with results apparent both immediately after therapy and at follow-up.

Attention training for reducing spider fear in spider-fearful individuals

Cognitive theorists propose that attentional biases for threatening information play an important role in the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders. If attentional biases for threat figure in the maintenance of anxiety, then the experimental reduction of the bias for threat (attention training) should reduce anxiety. We randomly assigned 41 spider-fearful individuals to receive either attention training ( n = 20) or control procedures ( n = 21). We used a modified dot-probe discrimination paradigm with photographs of spiders and cows to train attention. Training reduced attentional bias for spiders, but only temporarily. Although both groups declined in spider fear and avoidance, reduction in attentional bias did not produce significantly greater symptom reduction in the training group than in the control group. However, reduction in attentional bias predicted reduction in self-reported fear for the training group. The reduction in attentional bias for threat may have been insufficiently robust to produce symptom reduction greater than that produced by exposure to a live spider and spider photographs alone. Alternatively, attention training may be an unsuitable intervention for spider fear.

D-Cycloserine for the augmentation of an attentional training intervention for trait anxiety

The present study investigates the combination of two novel strategies for the treatment of anxiety that resulted from translational research. We examined whether the putative memory enhancer, d-cycloserine (DCS), offered benefit to procedures designed to train attention away from threat. Participants were 44 adults selected on the basis of high trait anxiety. In this randomized study, DCS or placebo was administered 1 h prior to attentional training away from threat using the dot probe task. On the following day, the effectiveness of this training was assessed along with emotional reactivity following two stressful tasks. We found that the addition of DCS resulted in significantly stronger reduction in attentional bias toward threat relative to placebo, but found no additive effects for the DCS condition on subsequent emotional reactivity. These results provide initial support for the efficacy of DCS for augmenting attentional training tasks; potential strategies for enhancing these results are discussed.

Attentional Bias, Self-consciousness and Perfectionism in Social Phobia Before and After Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy

Attentional bias for threat words (as measured by the emotional Stroop task), selfconsciousness and perfectionism was studied in 24 patients with social phobia before and after cognitive-behaviour treatment. A total of 18 (75%) of the patients were classified as treatment responders on the basis of reduced scores for social anxiety. The treatment responders showed a significant reduction in attentional bias for social threat words, in public self-consciousness and in perfectionism. The non-responders showed an equal reduction in perfectionism; as they had a much higher level of perfectionism before treatment, however, their change only amounted to a lowering of their level of perfectionism to the level that characterized the treatment responders before treatment. The treatment responders, on the other hand, reduced their level of perfectionism to that of non-clinical samples.

Attentional Bias, Self-consciousness and Perfectionism in Social Phobia Before and After Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy

Attentional bias for threat words (as measured by the emotional Stroop task), selfconsciousness and perfectionism was studied in 24 patients with social phobia before and after cognitive-behaviour treatment. A total of 18 (75%) of the patients were classified as treatment responders on the basis of reduced scores for social anxiety. The treatment responders showed a significant reduction in attentional bias for social threat words, in public self-consciousness and in perfectionism. The non-responders showed an equal reduction in perfectionism; as they had a much higher level of perfectionism before treatment, however, their change only amounted to a lowering of their level of perfectionism to the level that characterized the treatment responders before treatment. The treatment responders, on the other hand, reduced their level of perfectionism to that of non-clinical samples.