scholarly journals ‘Re-Train Your Brain’ web-based Cognitive Bias Modification intervention for emerging adults with co-occurring social anxiety and hazardous alcohol use: Protocol for a multi-arm randomized controlled pilot trial (Preprint)

10.2196/28667 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrina Prior ◽  
Elske Salemink ◽  
Reinout W Wiers ◽  
Bethany A Teachman ◽  
Monique Piggott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Cognitive Bias ◽  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Cognitive Bias Modification ◽  
Hazardous Alcohol Use ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Hazardous Alcohol ◽  
Bias Modification ◽  
Modification Intervention

scholarly journals ‘Re-Train Your Brain’: Protocol for a randomized controlled pilot trial of a web-based Cognitive Bias Modification intervention for emerging adults with comorbid social anxiety and hazardous alcohol use (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrina Prior ◽  
Elske Salemink ◽  
Reinout W Wiers ◽  
Bethany A Teachman ◽  
Monique Piggott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Treatment Seeking ◽  
Hazardous Alcohol Use ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Hazardous Alcohol ◽  
Bias Modification

BACKGROUND Alcohol use and anxiety disorders commonly co-occur, resulting in a more severe clinical presentation and poorer response to single-disorder treatments. Research has shown that Approach Bias Modification (ApBM) and Interpretation Bias Modification (IBM) cognitive re-training interventions can be efficacious adjunctive treatments that improve outcomes for alcohol use and social anxiety symptoms, respectively. However, the acceptability, feasibility and clinical utility of combining ApBM and IBM programs to optimise standard treatments among comorbid samples is unknown. It is also unclear as to whether integrating ApBM and IBM within each training session, or alternating them between each session, is more acceptable and efficacious. OBJECTIVE This paper describes the study protocol for a randomized controlled pilot trial investigating the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the ‘Re-Train Your Brain’ intervention – an adjunct web-based ApBM+IBM program – among a clinical sample of emerging adults with hazardous alcohol use and social anxiety. METHODS The study involves a 3-arm randomized controlled pilot trial in which treatment-seeking emerging adults (18-30 years) with co-occurring hazardous alcohol use and social anxiety disorder symptoms will be individually randomized to receive: (1) the Re-Train Your Brain ‘integrated’ program, delivered with 10 bi-weekly sessions focusing on both social anxiety and alcohol each week (50:50 ratio), plus treatment as usual (TAU i.e., the model of care provided in accordance with standard practice at their service; n=30); (2) the Re-Train Your Brain ‘alternating’ program, delivered with 10 bi-weekly sessions focusing on social anxiety one week and alcohol the next week in an alternating pattern, plus TAU (n=30); or (3) TAU only (n=30). Primary outcomes include feasibility (uptake, follow-up rates, treatment adherence, attrition, adverse events) and acceptability (system usability, client satisfaction, user experience, training format preference). Secondary efficacy outcomes include changes in alcohol approach and interpretation biases, social anxiety symptoms, and alcohol use (e.g., average drinks per day, binge-drinking, alcohol use motives, severity of alcohol dependence, alcohol craving). The primary endpoint will be post-treatment (6 weeks post-baseline), with a secondary endpoint at 3 months post-baseline. Descriptive statistics will be conducted for primary outcomes, while intention-to-treat multi-level mixed effects analysis for repeated measures will be performed for secondary outcomes. RESULTS The study is funded from 2019―2023 by Australian Rotary Health. Recruitment is expected to be complete by mid―late 2022, with follow-ups completed by early 2023. CONCLUSIONS The study will be the first to evaluate whether an ApBM+IBM program is acceptable to treatment-seeking emerging adults and whether it is feasible to deliver it online, in settings where it will ultimately be used (e.g., at home). The findings will broaden our understanding of the types of programs that emerging adults will engage with, and whether there is preliminary evidence of it being an efficacious treatment option for this comorbidity. CLINICALTRIAL Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12620001273976

Cognitive bias modification in problem and pathological gambling using a web-based approach-avoidance task: A pilot trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 272 ◽  
pp. 171-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte E. Wittekind ◽  
Julia Bierbrodt ◽  
Daniel Lüdecke ◽  
Ansgar Feist ◽  
Iver Hand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pathological Gambling ◽  
Cognitive Bias ◽  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Cognitive Bias Modification ◽  
Avoidance Task ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Approach Avoidance ◽  
Bias Modification

scholarly journals Challenges When Evaluating Cognitive Bias Modification Interventions for Substance Use Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (21) ◽  
pp. 7821
Author(s):  
Melvyn W. B. Zhang ◽  
Helen E. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Cognitive Bias ◽  
Cognitive Biases ◽  
Cognitive Bias Modification ◽  
Bias Assessment ◽  
Unconscious Processes ◽  
Negative Findings ◽  
Bias Modification ◽  
Modification Intervention ◽  
Selection Of

In recent years, advances in experimental psychology have led to a better understanding in automatic, unconscious processes, referred to as attentional and approach biases amongst individuals with substance use disorders. Attentional biases refer to the relatively automatic tendencies for attention to be preferentially allocated towards substance-related cues. Whereas, approach bias refers to the relatively automatic behavioral tendencies of individuals to reach out to substance-related cues in their natural environment. While, several reviews confirm the existence of these biases, and the effectiveness of bias modification, the conduct of cognitive bias modification amongst substance-using individuals is not without its challenges. One of these is that cognitive biases, both attentional and approach biases, are not universally present; and several individual differences factors modulate the magnitude of the biases. Another challenge that investigators faced in their conduct of cognitive bias modification relates to the selection of the appropriate task for bias assessment and modification. Other challenges intrinsic to cognitive bias modification intervention relates to that of participant attrition, much like conventional psychotherapies. Negative findings, of the absence of biases at baseline, or the lack of effectiveness of bias modification have been reported in studies of cognitive bias modification. All these challenges could have an impact on bias assessment and modification. In this perspective paper, we will explore the literature surrounding each of these challenges and discuss potential measures that could be undertaken to mitigate these clinical and research challenges.

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