scholarly journals Attention and Cognitive Bias Modification Apps: Review of the Literature and of Commercially Available Apps (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melvyn Zhang ◽  
JiangBo Ying ◽  
Guo Song ◽  
Daniel SS Fung ◽  
Helen Smith
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Bias ◽  
Personal Digital Assistant ◽  
Attention Bias ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Cognitive Bias Modification ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Manual Search ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Bias Modification

BACKGROUND Automatic processes, such as attentional biases or interpretative biases, have been purported to be responsible for several psychiatric disorders. Recent reviews have highlighted that cognitive biases may be modifiable. Advances in eHealth and mHealth have been harnessed for the delivery of cognitive bias modification. While several studies have evaluated mHealth-based bias modification intervention, no review, to our knowledge, has synthesized the evidence for it. In addition, no review has looked at commercial apps and their functionalities and methods of bias modification. A review is essential in determining whether scientifically validated apps are available commercially and the proportion of commercial apps that have been evaluated scientifically. OBJECTIVE The objective of this review was primarily to determine the proportion of attention or cognitive bias modification apps that have been evaluated scientifically and secondarily to determine whether the scientifically evaluated apps were commercially available. We also sought to identify commercially available bias modification apps and determine the functionalities of these apps, the methods used for attention or cognitive bias modification, and whether these apps had been evaluated scientifically. METHODS To identify apps in the published literature, we searched PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus for studies published from 2000 to April 17, 2018. The search terms used were “attention bias” OR “cognitive bias” AND “smartphone” OR “smartphone application” OR “smartphone app” OR “mobile phones” OR “mobile application” OR mobile app” OR “personal digital assistant.” To identify commercial apps, we conducted a manual cross-sectional search between September 15 and 25, 2017 in the Apple iTunes and Google Play app stores. The search terms used to identify the apps were “attention bias” and “cognitive bias.” We also conducted a manual search on the apps with published evaluations. RESULTS The effectiveness of bias modification was reported in 7 of 8 trials that we identified in the published literature. Only 1 of the 8 previously evaluated apps was commercially available. The 17 commercial apps we identified tended to use either an attention visual search or gamified task. Only 1 commercial app had been evaluated in the published literature. CONCLUSIONS This is perhaps the first review to synthesize the evidence for published mHealth attention bias apps. Our review demonstrated that evidence for mHealth attention bias apps is inconclusive, and quite a few commercial apps have not been validated scientifically.

Development of a co-designed gamified attention bias modification app for individuals with opioid use disorder

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Melvyn W.B. Zhang ◽  
Sandor Heng ◽  
Guo Song ◽  
Daniel S.S. Fung ◽  
Helen E. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Bias ◽  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Attention Bias ◽  
Cognitive Bias Modification ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Attention Bias Modification ◽  
Prior Review ◽  
Bias Modification ◽  
Modification Intervention

BACKGROUND: The advances in experimental psychology in the last decade have led to a greater understanding of cognitive bias, and the investigation of cognitive bias modifications as a therapeutic option. Whilst conventionally such interventions are delivered in a laboratory, technological advances are changing the potential modes of delivery of these interventions. Whereas mobile delivery of interventions might seem to increase accessibility and encourage compliance, this might not be the case for cognitive bias modification interventions. To reduce boredom, researchers have investigated whether gamification of the task could help reduce repetitiveness, and the diminished motivation that participants had over time. In a prior review of cognitive bias modification interventions, a collaboration between academics and developers was recommended to ensure that the developed product is evidence-based. With the increased recognition of the importance of participatory action research, participants could better help conventional intervention to meet their needs. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article was to describe the iterative steps in the conceptualization of the co-designed gamified cognitive bias modification intervention for individuals with opioid use disorders. METHODS AND RESULTS: A multidisciplinary team worked through the differences in the perspectives offered by healthcare professionals and patient participants, and jointly worked with a developer to conceptualize a new co-designed gamified attention bias modification intervention. The methods shared in this article could be considered and applied to future conceptualization of co-designed interventions.

Swipe up to smoke less cigarettes! Introducing a mobile Approach-Avoidance Task Application to fight Smoking

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 567-570
Author(s):  
Tanja Joan Eiler ◽  
Benjamin Haßler ◽  
Armin Grünewald ◽  
Rainer Brück ◽  
Alla Machulska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Cognitive Bias ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Cognitive Bias Modification ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Avoidance Task ◽  
Approach Avoidance ◽  
Use Behavior ◽  
Laboratory Training ◽  
Bias Modification

AbstractAutomatic tendencies to approach addictionrelated stimuli have been linked to the development and maintenance of harmful drug use behavior. Recent studies have shown that these automatic approaches can be directly addressed and modified by cognitive bias modification (CBM). However, the training and treatment effects are rather small and compliance could be impaired by time-consuming, multiple laboratory training sessions. Here we present a mobile variant of the Approach-Avoidance Task (app-AAT), which is evaluated by a feasibility study. The app-AAT is designed to improve the efficiency of CBM training by allowing smokers to access the training at any time, and by offering the option to track consumed cigarettes. Our first run with eight participants showed that the app was rated very positively with 4.2 out of 5 points (engagement: 3.7, functionality: 4.5, aesthetics: 4.4) by using the german Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS-G).

scholarly journals Inferences Training Affects Memory, Rumination, and Mood

2021 ◽  
pp. 216770262110098
Author(s):  
Baruch Perlman ◽  
Nilly Mor ◽  
Yael Wisney Jacobinski ◽  
Adi Doron Zakon ◽  
Noa Avirbach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autobiographical Memory ◽  
Cognitive Bias ◽  
Negative Mood ◽  
Cognitive Bias Modification ◽  
Negative Events ◽  
Training Effects ◽  
Causal Inferences ◽  
Causal Mechanisms ◽  
Bias Modification ◽  
Shed Light

Making negative inferences for negative events, ruminating about them, and retrieving negative aspects of memories have all been associated with depression. However, the causal mechanisms that link negative inferences to negative mood and the interplay between inferences, rumination, and memory have not been explored. In the current study, we used a cognitive-bias modification (CBM) procedure to train causal inferences and assessed training effects on ruminative thinking, memory, and negative mood among people with varying levels of depression. Training had immediate effects on negative mood and rumination but not after recall of a negative autobiographical memory. Note that training affected memory: Participants falsely recalled inferences presented during the training in a training-congruent manner. Moreover, among participants with high levels of depression, training also affected causal inferences they made for an autobiographical memory retrieved after training. Our findings shed light on negative cognitive cycles that may contribute to depression.

scholarly journals Cognitive bias modification: Induced interpretive biases affect memory.

Emotion ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya B. Tran ◽  
Paula T. Hertel ◽  
Jutta Joormann
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Bias ◽  
Cognitive Bias Modification ◽  
Bias Modification
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