Threat-related attentional bias in anxious youth: a review.
The research literature suggests that children and adolescents suffering from anxiety disorders experience cognitive distortions that magnify their perceived level of threat in the environment. Of these distortions, an attentional bias toward threat-related information has received the most theoretical and empirical consideration. A large volume of research suggests that anxiety-disordered youth selectively allocate their attention toward threat-related information. The present review critically examines this research and highlights several issues relevant to the study of threat-related attentional bias in youth, including the influences of temperament, trait anxiety, and state anxiety on threat-related attentional bias. It furthermore identifies the need for developmental and methodological considerations and recommends directions for research.
Puliafico
Anthony C
AC
Department of Psychology, Temple University, 1701 N. 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA.
Kendall
Philip C
PC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001143:Arousal; D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D004924:Escape Reaction; D005544:Forecasting; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000592:standards; D011582:Psychological Theory; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D002666:Psychology, Child; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012106:Research; D012931:Social Environment; D013694:Temperament