Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 12, 2026
A Prediction Error-driven Retrieval Procedure for Destabilizing and Rewriting Maladaptive Reward Memories in Hazardous Drinkers
Published on: January 5, 2018
Smartphone-Based Approach-Avoidance Bias Modification for Alcohol Stimuli: Proof-of-Concept Study
Matthis Morgenstern1, Benjamin Pietsch1, Hilmar Zech2
1Institute for Therapy and Health Research, Harmsstr. 2, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, 24114, Germany, 49 431-570-2935, 49 431-570-2929.
Background:
Targeting automatic approach tendencies toward alcohol-related stimuli has been shown to significantly reduce relapse rates in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) when used as an add-on to inpatient treatment. Traditional approach-avoidance task (AAT) training requires a clinical setting and a stationary device.
Objective:
A mobile app was tested that allowed the training to be conducted outside a clinical environment while capturing actual motion parameters, such as acceleration.
Methods:
Three proof-of-concept studies assessed the reliability and validity of the mobile app version of the AAT. Study 1 tested technical stability and measurement reliability in 26 university students across 6 home-based sessions. Study 2 examined approach-avoidance tendencies in 15 inpatients with AUD. Study 3 tested 28 soccer fans to determine the modifiability of alcohol-related biases after 3 or 6 training sessions.
Results:
The app demonstrated high technical stability and measurement reliability in study 1. In study 2, patients showed faster reaction times (RTs) when pushing away alcohol-related images (avoidance tendency) and greater acceleration when pulling them toward themselves (approach tendency). In study 3, participants also exhibited an RT-based alcohol avoidance bias and a small acceleration-based alcohol approach bias. Training effects were observed for RTs after the test, indicating an increase in alcohol avoidance. An increase in acceleration-based alcohol avoidance was only found in participants with risky alcohol consumption.
Conclusions:
The mobile app version of the AAT appears to produce reliable measures and might have the potential to effectively modify alcohol-related automatic tendencies. The current study serves as a proof of concept, so all results should be treated as exploratory. Future randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate the app's potential to change actual alcohol behavior in nonclinical populations.
