OBJECTIVE:Attention bias modification training (ABMT) is a promising treatment. Nevertheless, few studies examine its effectiveness in anxious children. This study examined the efficacy of such an ABMT protocol in pediatric anxiety. METHOD:37 anxious children were randomly assigned to one of two ABMT conditions. In the attention-towards-positive (ATP) condition, children searched 3×3 matrices for a happy face amongst angry faces. In the attention-training-control (ATC) condition, they searched for a bird amongst flowers. Children completed 160 trials in each of four training sessions per week for three weeks at home (1920 total trials). Clinical and attention bias measures were assessed before and after ABMT. RESULTS: Children randomized to ATP showed greater post-training attention bias towards happy faces than children randomized to ATC. ATP also produced significantly greater reductions in clinician-rated diagnostic severity and number of diagnoses, compared to ATC. In the ATP group, 50% of children who completed training did not meet criteria for their principal diagnosis, compared to 8% in the ATC group. CONCLUSION:Training anxious children to focus attention on positive features of their environment may be a promising treatment.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: Attention bias modification training (ABMT) is a promising treatment. Nevertheless, few studies examine its effectiveness in anxious children. This study examined the efficacy of such an ABMT protocol in pediatric anxiety. METHOD: 37 anxious children were randomly assigned to one of two ABMT conditions. In the attention-towards-positive (ATP) condition, children searched 3×3 matrices for a happy face amongst angry faces. In the attention-training-control (ATC) condition, they searched for a bird amongst flowers. Children completed 160 trials in each of four training sessions per week for three weeks at home (1920 total trials). Clinical and attention bias measures were assessed before and after ABMT. RESULTS:Children randomized to ATP showed greater post-training attention bias towards happy faces than children randomized to ATC. ATP also produced significantly greater reductions in clinician-rated diagnostic severity and number of diagnoses, compared to ATC. In the ATP group, 50% of children who completed training did not meet criteria for their principal diagnosis, compared to 8% in the ATC group. CONCLUSION: Training anxious children to focus attention on positive features of their environment may be a promising treatment.
Authors: Sharon Eldar; Alan Apter; Daniel Lotan; Koraly Perez Edgar; Reut Naim; Nathan A Fox; Daniel S Pine; Yair Bar-Haim Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2012-02 Impact factor: 18.112
Authors: Lauren K White; Kathryn A Degnan; Heather A Henderson; Koraly Pérez-Edgar; Olga L Walker; Tomer Shechner; Ellen Leibenluft; Yair Bar-Haim; Daniel S Pine; Nathan A Fox Journal: Child Dev Date: 2017-01
Authors: Susanna W Chang; Jennie M Kuckertz; Deepika Bose; Arturo R Carmona; John Piacentini; Nader Amir Journal: Child Psychiatry Hum Dev Date: 2019-04
Authors: Santiago Morales; Natalie V Miller; Sonya V Troller-Renfree; Lauren K White; Kathryn A Degnan; Heather A Henderson; Nathan A Fox Journal: Dev Psychopathol Date: 2020-05
Authors: Jennifer C Britton; Yair Bar-Haim; Michelle A Clementi; Lindsey S Sankin; Gang Chen; Tomer Shechner; Maxine A Norcross; Carolyn N Spiro; Kara M Lindstrom; Daniel S Pine Journal: Dev Cogn Neurosci Date: 2012-11-10 Impact factor: 6.464