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Shifting Episodic Prediction With Online Cognitive Bias Modification: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Jeremy W Eberle1, Mehdi Boukhechba2, Jianhui Sun3
1Department of Psychology, University of Virginia.
Summary
A scalable online program training positive future thinking reduced negative biases in adults. While effective for cognitive biases, it did not significantly impact anxiety or depression symptoms compared to control groups.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Digital Mental Health
Background:
- Negative future thinking is a core feature across various emotional disorders.
- Cognitive bias modification offers a potential transdiagnostic approach to target negative thinking patterns.
- Scalable digital interventions are needed to address the accessibility gap in mental health treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the efficacy of a brief, online cognitive bias modification program in promoting positive episodic predictions.
- To evaluate the program's impact on cognitive biases related to future expectations and self-efficacy.
- To assess the program's effects on anxiety, depression, and growth mindset.
Main Methods:
- A hybrid efficacy-effectiveness trial randomized 958 adults to either positive, 50/50, or neutral scenario training conditions.
- The intervention consisted of a four-session, scalable online cognitive bias modification program.
- Outcomes measured included negative and positive expectancy bias, self-efficacy, optimism, anxiety, depression, and growth mindset.
Main Results:
- Positive training significantly improved negative expectancy bias (d = -0.58), positive expectancy bias (d = 0.80), and self-efficacy (d = 0.29) compared to the control.
- Positive training outperformed 50/50 training in improving expectancy bias and optimism (d = 0.31).
- Improvements in cognitive biases were maintained at 1-month follow-up, but anxiety and depression symptom changes were comparable across all conditions.
Conclusions:
- A scalable online cognitive bias modification program effectively targets and modifies maladaptive future thinking biases.
- While the program shows promise for improving cognitive outlook, further research is needed to validate its impact on clinical symptom reduction.
- The findings suggest that targeting transdiagnostic cognitive processes via digital interventions may be a viable strategy for mental health.
