title: Modifying social anxiety related to a real-life stressor using online Cognitive Bias Modification for interpretation.
abstract: Modifying threat related biases in attention and interpretation has been shown to successfully reduce global symptoms of anxiety in high anxious and clinically anxious samples (termed Cognitive Bias Modification, CBM). However, the possibility that CBM can be used as a way to prevent anxiety associated with an upcoming real-life stressful event in vulnerable populations has yet to be systematically examined. The present study aimed to assess whether a two-week course of online CBM for interpretations (CBM-I) could reduce social evaluative fear when starting university. Sixty-nine students anxious about starting university completed five sessions of online CBM in the two weeks prior to starting university, or completed a placebo control intervention. Results indicated that CBM-I reduced social evaluative fear from baseline to day one of starting university to a greater extent than the placebo control intervention. Also, there was a greater reduction in state anxiety and a trend indicating a greater reduction in social evaluative fear in the CBM-I group at 4 weeks follow-up. Results suggest that CBM-I could be used as a preventative tool to help reduce anxiety specific to challenging life events.
authors: Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK. Electronic address: laura.hoppitt@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Hoppitt
authors: Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, UK.
authors: Josephine L
authors: JL
authors: Illingworth
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Colin
authors: C
authors: MacLeod
authors: The Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, UK.
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Hampshire
authors: Mood Disorders Centre, University of Exeter, UK.
authors: Barnaby D
authors: BD
authors: Dunn
authors: Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, UK.
authors: Bundy
authors: B
authors: Mackintosh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D057566:Self Report; D012919:Social Behavior; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anxiety; Attention bias; Cognitive Bias Modification; Information processing; Interpretation bias