title: Cognitive bias modification in the treatment of social anxiety in early psychosis: a single case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Social anxiety is a common problem among people who are recovering from psychosis. At present there is no evidence based psychological treatment targeting social anxiety in this population. Cognitive Bias Modification for Interpretation (CBM-I) has been shown to be effective in reducing social anxiety in people who do not have a history of psychosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility and acceptability of the CBM-I methodology for use in a clinical setting with people who are experiencing social anxiety following an episode of psychosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight participants with social anxiety were recruited from an early intervention service. A single session of computerized CBM-I was conducted, with mood and cognitive interpretation bias being assessed before and after the session.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All participants reported an improvement in mood immediately following the CBM-I session (n=8). For those participants who had a negative interpretation bias, none became more negative following the CBM-I session, with three out of six participants showing a beneficial change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that CBM-I is acceptable for use with people who are experiencing social anxiety following a psychotic episode. Further research looking at how CBM-I could be made more interactive and producing more applicable scenarios for use in a clinical setting is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Central Norfolk Early Intervention Team, 80 St Stephen’s Road, Norwich NR1 3RE, UK. ruth.turner@nwmhp.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hoppitt
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hodgekins
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: Bundy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mackintosh
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fowler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015897:Comorbidity; D032882:Comprehension; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012938:Social Perception; D055815:Young Adult