Efficacy of a smartphone-based Cognitive Bias Modification program for emotion regulation: A randomized-controlled...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Digital Therapeutics
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Maladaptive emotion regulation is linked to psychopathology.
• Digital interventions like Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) offer scalable therapeutic solutions.
• Smartphone-based interventions can target emotion regulation effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the efficacy of an integrated CBM module within Affect Regulation Training (CBM-ART) delivered via a smartphone app.
• To evaluate the intervention's impact on emotion regulation, interpretation bias, stress, and depression.
• To assess the acceptability and usability of the digital intervention.

Main Methods:

• A randomized-controlled crossover trial with undergraduate students reporting elevated stress.
• Participants were assigned to an active intervention (CBM-ART), an active control, or a waitlist.
• Assessments included emotion regulation, interpretation bias, stress, depression, and stress reactivity pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• The active intervention significantly improved interpretation biases and reduced symptoms of stress and depression.
• Active control training showed less pronounced effects on biases and symptoms compared to the active intervention.
• The CBM-ART intervention was rated positively for acceptability and usability.

Conclusions:

• An integrated app-based CBM intervention (CBM-ART) shows initial evidence of efficacy in improving emotion regulation and reducing psychopathological symptoms.
• The intervention effectively reduced interpretation biases and symptoms of stress.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms driving these interventional effects.