Attentional bias modification based on visual probe task: methodological issues, results and clinical relevance.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Attentional bias, directing focus to specific stimuli, is implicated in mental disorder development and maintenance.
• Attentional bias modification (ABM) is explored as an adjunctive treatment targeting automatic processing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and discuss methods, efficacy, and clinical applications of attentional bias modification (ABM) studies.
• Focus on studies employing a visual probe task for ABM.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of Web of Knowledge, PubMed, and PsycInfo.
• Keywords included: attentional bias modification, manipulation, and training.
• Included empirical studies using visual probe task ABM, published 2002-2014 in English.

Main Results:

• Fifty-seven studies met inclusion criteria.
• 78% of studies successfully trained attention in the intended direction.
• 71% demonstrated generalization of training effects to symptom-correlated measures.

Conclusions:

• Attentional bias modification shows promise for clinical application.
• Standardization of methods and further investigation with clinical populations are needed.
• Future research should build upon existing findings regarding ABM effectiveness.