title: How to boost positive interpretations? A meta-analysis of the effectiveness of cognitive bias modification for interpretation.
abstract: The current meta-analysis explores the strength of effects of cognitive bias modification training for interpretation bias (CBM-I) on positive (i.e., adaptive) interpretations and mood as well as the training and sample characteristics influencing these effects. Data-bases were searched with the key words "interpret* bias AND training" and "interpret* bias AND modif*". Reference lists of identified articles were checked and authors of identified articles were contacted for further relevant articles and unpublished data. Studies were reviewed for inclusion with eligibility criteria being that the study (a) aimed to target interpretation biases through any kind of training, (b) assessed mood and/or interpretation bias as outcome measures, (c) allocated individuals to training conditions at random, and (d) recruited adult samples. A meta-analytic multilevel mixed-effects model was employed to assess standardized mean changes in interpretation bias, negative mood, and emotional reactivity. In addition, several training and sample characteristics were explored for their potential to enhance benign training effectiveness. On average, benign CBM-I resulted in an increase in positive interpretation bias (p<.01) and a decrease in negative mood state (p<.001), but did not affect emotional reactivity. These effects were not consistently different from control conditions with no or neutral training. However, within benign training conditions imagery instructions and more training sessions were related to larger cognitive and mood effects, whereas feedback about training performance and inclusion of non-benign training items (instead of including benign items only) boosted cognitive effects only. Finally, training was more effective in women (cognitive and mood effects) and presumably samples with symptomatic emotional dysregulation (cognitive effects). Although the effects of emotional dysregulation and number of training sessions could not well be distinguished, there is an indication that when used with imagery instructions and more training sessions, benign CBM-I can be employed as a useful complementary treatment to usual psychotherapies.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Menne-Lothmann
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Viechtbauer
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors: Petra
authors: P
authors: Höhn
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors: Zuzana
authors: Z
authors: Kasanova
authors: Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors: Simone P
authors: SP
authors: Haller
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors: Marjan
authors: M
authors: Drukker
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Visiting Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology King's College London, King's Health Partners Department of Psychosis studies Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Jim
authors: J
authors: van Os
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors: Marieke
authors: M
authors: Wichers
authors: Psychology Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Jennifer Y F
authors: JY
authors: Lau
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care