Franklin R Schneier1, Marcia B Kimeldorf2, Tse Hwei Choo3, Joanna E Steinglass4, Melanie M Wall3, Abby J Fyer4, H Blair Simpson4. 1. New York State Psychiatric Institute, Division of Clinical Therapeutics, USA; Columbia University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, USA. Electronic address: fschneier@nyspi.columbia.edu. 2. New York State Psychiatric Institute, Division of Clinical Therapeutics, USA. 3. Columbia University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, USA. 4. New York State Psychiatric Institute, Division of Clinical Therapeutics, USA; Columbia University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Attention bias to threat (selective attention toward threatening stimuli) has been frequently found in anxiety disorder samples, but its distribution both within and beyond this category is unclear. Attention bias has been studied extensively in social anxiety disorder (SAD) but relatively little in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), historically considered an anxiety disorder, or anorexia nervosa (AN), which is often characterized by interpersonal as well as body image/eating fears. METHODS: Medication-free adults with SAD (n = 43), OCD (n = 50), or AN (n = 30), and healthy control volunteers (HC, n = 74) were evaluated for attention bias with an established dot probe task presenting images of angry and neutral faces. Additional outcomes included attention bias variability (ABV), which summarizes fluctuation in attention between vigilance and avoidance, and has been reported to have superior reliability. We hypothesized that attention bias would be elevated in SAD and associated with SAD severity. RESULTS: Attention bias in each disorder did not differ from HC, but within the SAD group attention bias correlated significantly with severity of social avoidance. ABV was significantly lower in OCD versus HC, and it correlated positively with severity of OCD symptoms within the OCD group. CONCLUSIONS: Findings do not support differences from HC in attention bias to threat faces for SAD, OCD, or AN. Within the SAD sample, the association of attention bias with severity of social avoidance is consistent with evidence that attention bias moderates development of social withdrawal. The association of ABV with OCD diagnosis and severity is novel and deserves further study.
BACKGROUND:Attention bias to threat (selective attention toward threatening stimuli) has been frequently found in anxiety disorder samples, but its distribution both within and beyond this category is unclear. Attention bias has been studied extensively in social anxiety disorder (SAD) but relatively little in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), historically considered an anxiety disorder, or anorexia nervosa (AN), which is often characterized by interpersonal as well as body image/eating fears. METHODS: Medication-free adults with SAD (n = 43), OCD (n = 50), or AN (n = 30), and healthy control volunteers (HC, n = 74) were evaluated for attention bias with an established dot probe task presenting images of angry and neutral faces. Additional outcomes included attention bias variability (ABV), which summarizes fluctuation in attention between vigilance and avoidance, and has been reported to have superior reliability. We hypothesized that attention bias would be elevated in SAD and associated with SAD severity. RESULTS:Attention bias in each disorder did not differ from HC, but within the SAD group attention bias correlated significantly with severity of social avoidance. ABV was significantly lower in OCD versus HC, and it correlated positively with severity of OCD symptoms within the OCD group. CONCLUSIONS: Findings do not support differences from HC in attention bias to threat faces for SAD, OCD, or AN. Within the SAD sample, the association of attention bias with severity of social avoidance is consistent with evidence that attention bias moderates development of social withdrawal. The association of ABV with OCD diagnosis and severity is novel and deserves further study.
Authors: Douglas S Mennin; David M Fresco; Richard G Heimberg; Franklin R Schneier; Sharon O Davies; Michael R Liebowitz Journal: J Anxiety Disord Date: 2002
Authors: Amy Krain Roy; Roma A Vasa; Maggie Bruck; Karin Mogg; Brendan P Bradley; Michael Sweeney; R Lindsey Bergman; Erin B McClure-Tone; Daniel S Pine Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2008-10 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Jenny Yiend; Andrew Mathews; Tom Burns; Kevin Dutton; Andrés Fernández-Martín; George A Georgiou; Michael Luckie; Alexandra Rose; Riccardo Russo; Elaine Fox Journal: Clin Psychol Sci Date: 2015-09-01