title: Training interpretation biases among individuals with body dysmorphic disorder symptoms.
abstract: The current study provided an initial test of a Cognitive Bias Modification for Interpretations (CBM-I) training paradigm among a sample with elevated BDD symptoms (N=86). As expected, BDD-relevant interpretations were reduced among participants who completed a positive (vs. comparison) training program. Results also pointed to the intriguing possibility that modifying biased appearance-relevant interpretations is causally related to changes in biased, socially relevant interpretations. Further, providing support for cognitive behavioral models, residual change in interpretations was associated with some aspects of in vivo stressor responding. However, contrary to expectations there were no significant effects of condition on emotional vulnerability to a BDD stressor, potentially because participants in both training conditions experienced reductions in biased socially-threatening interpretations following training (suggesting that the "comparison" condition was not inert). These findings have meaningful theoretical and clinical implications, and fit with transdiagnostic conceptualizations of psychopathology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States. Electronic address: premoje@miamioh.edu.
authors.forename: Julie E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Premo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States.
authors.forename: Laurel D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Sarfan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States.
authors.forename: Elise M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Clerkin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015982:Bias; D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body dysmorphic disorder; Cognitive bias; Cognitive bias modification; Interpretations