title: Combined cognitive bias modification treatment for social anxiety disorder: a pilot trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) is a promising treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). However, previous randomized trials have not systematically examined the combination of CBM for attention (CBM-A) and interpretation (CBM-I) or the credibility and acceptability of these protocols.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial (N = 32) to examine the efficacy of a CBM treatment called Attention and Interpretation Modification (AIM) for SAD. AIM comprised eight, twice weekly computer sessions with no therapist contact. During AIM, participants (1) completed a dot probe task in which probes always followed neutral faces when paired with a disgust face, thereby directing attention away from threat and (2) completed a word-sentence association task in which they received positive feedback for making benign interpretations of word-sentence pairs and negative feedback for making negative interpretations. We also assessed participants' perceived credibility of and satisfaction with AIM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants receiving AIM reported significantly reduced self-reported (Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale) symptoms of social anxiety relative to the placebo. These gains were also evident on a behavioral measure (performance on an impromptu speech). AIM met our benchmarks for credibility and acceptability in this community sample, although credibility ratings were modest. Participants reported that CBM-I was more helpful than CBM-A.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A combined CBM treatment produced medium-to-large effects on social anxiety. Participants rated AIM as moderately credibly and acceptable. Should these findings be replicated in larger samples, AIM has the potential to be a widely accessible and efficacious treatment for SAD.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA. Courtney_Beard@brown.edu
authors: Courtney
authors: C
authors: Beard
authors: Risa B
authors: RB
authors: Weisberg
authors: Nader
authors: N
authors: Amir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010919:Placebos; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos