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Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments
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Attention bias modification: the Emperor's new suit?

Paul M G Emmelkamp1

  • 1Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Weesperplein 4, 1018 XA Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p.m.g.emmelkamp@uva.nl

BMC Medicine
|June 27, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Attention bias modification (ABM) shows limited effectiveness in reducing social anxiety, particularly in clinical populations. Evidence suggests traditional cognitive therapies are more effective for social anxiety disorder.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Background:

  • Attention bias modification (ABM) has shown promise in laboratory settings for reducing anxiety in socially anxious individuals.
  • Replication failures and mixed results in controlled studies raise questions about ABM's efficacy, especially in clinical samples.
  • The effectiveness of internet-based interventions for social anxiety disorder (SAD) is well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate the evidence for attention bias modification in treating social anxiety disorder.
  • To compare the effectiveness of ABM with established internet-based treatments for SAD.
  • To determine if further investigation into internet-delivered ABM for SAD is warranted.

Main Methods:

  • Review of laboratory-based and controlled studies on attention bias modification for social anxiety.
  • Comparison of ABM outcomes with results from internet-based cognitive therapy and exposure methods for SAD.
  • Analysis of replication studies and their implications for ABM efficacy.

Main Results:

  • Many controlled studies failed to replicate positive effects of ABM in clinically diagnosed individuals with social anxiety.
  • Established internet-based treatments for social anxiety disorder demonstrate superior outcomes compared to ABM.
  • The evidence base for ABM in clinical social anxiety samples is considered weak.

Conclusions:

  • Attention bias modification is not currently supported by robust evidence for treating clinical social anxiety disorder.
  • Existing internet-based cognitive and exposure therapies are more effective for SAD than ABM.
  • Further research on internet-delivered ABM for SAD is not recommended at this time due to insufficient evidence.