Izabela Krejtz1, Paweł Holas2, Marzena Rusanowska3, John B Nezlek4,5. 1. Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Cognitive Studies, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities. 2. Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw. 3. Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences. 4. Department of Psychology, College of William & Mary. 5. Department of Psychology, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The present study examined the effectiveness of online positive attention bias modification training (ABMT) in inducing positive attention and positive interpretational biases in depressed individuals. METHOD:Clinically depressed individuals (n = 60) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions of 14-day online ABMT. In the positive ABMT condition, a probe replaced positive stimuli in 100% of trials. In the control condition, the probe replaced positive stimuli in 50% of trials. Before and after training, we recorded eye movements during the completion of a Scrambled Sentence Task in which participants created positive or negative sentences. Participants also completed measures of symptoms of depression and anxiety. RESULTS: After training, participants in the positive ABMT condition fixated longer on positive keywords than participants in the control group and experienced a significant reduction in anxiety. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that positive AMBT can promote positive attention bias among clinically depressed individuals.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: The present study examined the effectiveness of online positive attention bias modification training (ABMT) in inducing positive attention and positive interpretational biases in depressed individuals. METHOD: Clinically depressed individuals (n = 60) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions of 14-day online ABMT. In the positive ABMT condition, a probe replaced positive stimuli in 100% of trials. In the control condition, the probe replaced positive stimuli in 50% of trials. Before and after training, we recorded eye movements during the completion of a Scrambled Sentence Task in which participants created positive or negative sentences. Participants also completed measures of symptoms of depression and anxiety. RESULTS: After training, participants in the positive ABMT condition fixated longer on positive keywords than participants in the control group and experienced a significant reduction in anxiety. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that positive AMBT can promote positive attention bias among clinically depressed individuals.