title: Positive Imagery-Based Cognitive Bias Modification as a Web-Based Treatment Tool for Depressed Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: Depression is a global health problem requiring treatment innovation. Targeting neglected cognitive aspects may provide a useful route. We tested a cognitive-training paradigm using positive mental imagery (imagery cognitive bias modification, imagery CBM), developed via experimental psychopathology studies, in a randomized controlled trial. Training was delivered via the Internet to 150 individuals with current major depression. Unexpectedly, there was no significant advantage for imagery CBM compared with a closely matched control for depression symptoms as a whole in the full sample. In exploratory analyses, compared with the control, imagery CBM significantly improved anhedonia over the intervention and improved depression symptoms as a whole for those participants with fewer than five episodes of depression and those who engaged to a threshold level of imagery. Results suggest avenues for improving imagery CBM to inform low-intensity treatment tools for depression. Anhedonia may be a useful treatment target for future work.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit.
authors.forename: Simon E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Blackwell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Browning
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis ; Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mathews
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford ; Department of Psychology, University of Geneva.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pictet
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Geddes
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit ; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford.
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Holmes
keywords: Internet health; anhedonia; cognitive therapy; cognitive-bias modification; depression; mental imagery