title: Virtual Reality-Based Attention Bias Modification Training for Social Anxiety: A Feasibility and Proof of Concept Study.
abstract: Attention bias modification (ABM) programs have been considered as a promising new approach for the treatment of various disorders, including social anxiety disorder (SAD). However, previous studies yielded ambiguous results regarding the efficacy of ABM in SAD. The present proof-of-concept study investigates the feasibility of a newly developed virtual reality (VR)-based dot-probe training paradigm. It was designed to facilitate attentional disengagement from threatening stimuli in socially anxious individuals (N = 15). The following outcomes were examined: (a) self-reports of enjoyment, motivation, flow, and presence; (b) attentional bias for social stimuli; and (c) social anxiety symptoms. Results showed that ABM training is associated with high scores in enjoyment, motivation, flow, and presence. Furthermore, significant improvements in terms of attention bias and social anxiety symptoms were observed from pre- to follow-up assessment. The study suggests that VR is a feasible and presumably a promising new medium for ABM trainings. Controlled studies will need to be carried out.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urech
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krieger
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alvin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chesham
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Fred W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Mast
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berger
keywords: attention bias; attention bias modification; dot-probe paradigm; social anxiety disorders; social phobia; virtual reality