Web-Based Cognitive Bias Modification Interventions for Psychiatric Disorders: Scoping Review.
Melvyn Zhang1, Jiangbo Ying1, Guo Song1
1National Addictions Management Service, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore.
JMIR Mental Health
|October 26, 2019
Summary
Web-based cognitive bias modification shows promise for reducing biases in conditions like social anxiety and OCD. Further research with larger groups is needed to confirm effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Digital Health
Background:
- Cognitive biases are automatic tendencies influencing attention and interpretation in disorders like addiction and anxiety.
- Cognitive bias modification (CBM) interventions have shown efficacy but were previously lab-bound.
- Web technologies now enable wider application of CBM interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a scoping review of Web-based cognitive bias interventions.
- To determine the scope and effectiveness of these online interventions.
Main Methods:
- Searched major databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, etc.) from inception to December 2017.
- Used keywords related to cognitive biases and online delivery methods.
- Conducted a narrative synthesis due to heterogeneity in reported outcomes.
Main Results:
- Identified 22 randomized controlled studies across various disorders including social anxiety, OCD, and substance use disorders.
- Sample sizes ranged from 16 to 434 participants.
- Preliminary evidence suggests Web-based interventions can reduce biases in adolescents with anxiety/depression and individuals with OCD.
Conclusions:
- This is the first scoping review of Web-based CBM for psychiatric disorders.
- Interventions have been primarily applied to social anxiety and addictive disorders.
- Larger studies are required to definitively establish the effectiveness of Web-based CBM.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Motivational Bias
291
Cognitive bias results from limitations in thinking and information processing, leading to systematic errors in judgment. Conversely, motivational bias stems from personal desires or emotions, causing distortions in perception to align with self-interest. Motivational bias influences how individuals perceive and attribute causes to events, often shaped by personal needs, goals, and self-esteem preservation. This bias can distort judgment, leading to inaccurate assessments of success, failure,...
291
01:25Beck's Cognitive Therapy
295
Cognitive therapy is a psychological approach designed to address distortions in thinking, which can lead to negative emotions and unrealistic beliefs. These cognitive distortions often influence how individuals interpret and respond to situations, exacerbating emotional distress. Below are some prevalent cognitive distortions, their characteristics, and examples of how they manifest in thought processes.
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...
295
01:25Cognitive Therapy
730
Cognitive therapy, pioneered by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, is a structured approach to addressing psychological distress by focusing on the influence of thoughts on emotions and behaviors. All cognitive therapies involve the basic assumption that human beings have control over their feelings, and that how individuals feel about something depends on how they think about it. Unlike psychoanalytic methods that delve into unconscious processes or humanistic approaches emphasizing...
730
02:07Blind Procedures
12.8K
Ideally, the people who observe and record the children’s behavior are unaware of who was assigned to the experimental or control group, in order to control for experimenter bias. Experimenter bias refers to the possibility that a researcher’s expectations might skew the results of the study. Remember, conducting an experiment requires a lot of planning, and the people involved in the research project have a vested interest in supporting their hypotheses. If the observers knew which...
12.8K
01:24Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
312
Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) are grounded in the belief that our thoughts profoundly influence our emotions and actions. Advocates of CBT emphasize three core assumptions: first, that cognitions are identifiable and measurable; second, that they are central to psychological functioning; and third, that irrational or maladaptive beliefs can be replaced with rational and adaptive ones. This transformative approach to therapy has paved the way for specific models such as Albert...
312
01:27Halo Effect
341
The halo effect is a cognitive bias in which an individual's overall impression influences judgments about their specific traits. This psychological phenomenon leads people to associate positive characteristics with those they perceive as generally good and negative characteristics with those they view as bad. This effect is particularly influential in social perception, professional evaluations, and decision-making processes.The Psychological Basis of the Halo EffectThe halo effect is rooted...
341