title: Effects of emotion recognition training on mood among individuals with high levels of depressive symptoms: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have developed a new paradigm that targets the recognition of facial expression of emotions. Here we report the protocol of a randomised controlled trial of the effects of emotion recognition training on mood in a sample of individuals with depressive symptoms over a 6-week follow-up period.
  
  
  METHODS
  We will recruit 190 adults from the general population who report high levels of depressive symptoms (defined as a score ≥ 14 on the Beck Depression Inventory-II). Participants will attend a screening session and will be randomised to intervention or control procedures, repeated five times over consecutive days (Monday to Friday). A follow-up session will take place at end-of -treatment, 2-weeks and 6-weeks after training. Our primary study outcome will be depressive symptoms, Beck Depression Inventory- II (rated over the past two weeks). Our secondary outcomes are: depressive symptoms, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression; anxiety symptoms, Beck Anxiety Inventory (rated over the past month); positive affect, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (rated as 'how you feel right now'); negative affect, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (rated as 'how you feel right now'); emotion sensitivity, Emotion Recognition Task (test phase); approach motivation and persistence, the Fishing Game; and depressive interpretation bias, Scrambled Sentences Test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is of a novel cognitive bias modification technique that targets biases in emotional processing characteristic of depression, and can be delivered automatically via computer, Internet or Smartphone. It therefore has potential to be a valuable cost-effective adjunctive treatment for depression which may be used together with more traditional psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy and pharmacotherapy.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Current Controlled Trials: ISRCTN17767674.
authors.affiliation: School of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, 12a Priory Road, Bristol BS8 1TU, UK. sally.adams@bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Ian S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Penton-Voak
authors.forename: Catherine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Harmer
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: Marcus R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Munafò
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004644:Emotions; D004739:England; D005149:Facial Expression; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D009042:Motivation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D012107:Research Design; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome