Cognitive bias modification for anxiety: current evidence and future directions

Abstract

Cognitive bias modification (CBM) is an innovative approach to modifying cognitive biases that confer vulnerability to anxiety. CBM interventions are designed to directly modify attention and interpretation biases via repeated practice on cognitive tasks. Analogue studies have demonstrated that CBM affects cognitive biases and anxiety in a number of anxiety conditions. Multisession CBM treatments have shown preliminary efficacy for generalized social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder, with effect sizes comparable to existing treatments. However, with any newly developing field, there are a number of important limitations of the existing data that need to be addressed before making firm conclusions regarding CBM's efficacy for anxiety disorders. This article focuses on the theoretical rationale for CBM and the current evidence from analogue and clinical samples.

Figure 1. Example dot probe trial

Participants first see a fixation cross (+), followed by two stimuli (e.g., one threat word and one neutral word) and finally a probe (the letter ‘E’ or ‘F’).

Figure 2. Cognitive bias modification study design for single-session experiment

CBM: Cognitive bias modification.