scholarly journals The clinical relevance of attentional bias in substance use disorders

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt Field ◽  
Reshmi Marhe ◽  
Ingmar H. A. Franken
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Attentional Bias ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Motivational State ◽  
Attentional Bias Modification ◽  
Predictive Relationship ◽  
Bias Modification ◽  
Subsequent Relapse

Individuals with substance use disorders typically show an “attentional bias” for substance-related cues: Those cues are able to grab and hold the attention, in preference to other cues in the environment. We discuss the theoretical context for this work before reviewing the measurement of attentional bias, and its relationship to motivational state and relapse to substance use after a period of abstinence. Finally, we discuss the implications of this research for the treatment of substance use disorders. We conclude that attentional bias is associated with subjective craving, and that moment-by-moment fluctuations in attentional bias may precede relapse to substance use. The evidence regarding the predictive relationship between attentional bias assessed in treatment contexts and subsequent relapse is inconsistent. Furthermore, there is currently insufficient evidence to endorse attentional bias modification as a treatment for substance use disorders. Clinical implications and suggestions for future research are highlighted.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of attentional bias modification training as add-on to regular treatment in alcohol and cannabis use disorder: A multicenter randomized control trial

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0252494
Author(s):  
Janika Heitmann ◽  
Madelon E. van Hemel-Ruiter ◽  
Mark Huisman ◽  
Brian D. Ostafin ◽  
Reinout W. Wiers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Attentional Bias ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Cannabis Use Disorder ◽  
Attentional Bias Modification ◽  
Long Term Treatment ◽  
Engagement And Disengagement ◽  
Bias Modification ◽  
Relapse Rates

Background Attentional bias for substance-relevant cues has been found to contribute to the persistence of addiction. Attentional bias modification (ABM) interventions might, therefore, increase positive treatment outcome and reduce relapse rates. The current study investigated the effectiveness of a newly developed home-delivered, multi-session, internet-based ABM intervention, the Bouncing Image Training Task (BITT), as an add-on to treatment as usual (TAU). Methods Participants (N = 169), diagnosed with alcohol or cannabis use disorder, were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: the experimental ABM group (50%; TAU+ABM); or the control group (50%; split in two subgroups the TAU+placebo group and TAU-only group, 25% each). Participants completed baseline, post-test, and 6 and 12 months follow-up measures of substance use and craving allowing to assess long-term treatment success and relapse rates. In addition, attentional bias (both engagement and disengagement), as well as secondary physical and psychological complaints (depression, anxiety, and stress) were assessed. Results No significant differences were found between conditions with regard to substance use, craving, relapse rates, attentional bias, or physical and psychological complaints. Conclusions The findings may reflect unsuccessful modification of attentional bias, the BITT not targeting the relevant process (engagement vs. disengagement bias), or may relate to the diverse treatment goals of the current sample (i.e., moderation or abstinence). The current findings provide no support for the efficacy of this ABM approach as an add-on to TAU in alcohol or cannabis use disorder. Future studies need to delineate the role of engagement and disengagement bias in the persistence of addiction, and the role of treatment goal in the effectiveness of ABM interventions.

scholarly journals Cognitive Bias Modification for Addictive Disorders: Emerging Knowledge and Persistent Gaps

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-82
Author(s):  
Melvyn WB Zhang ◽  
Helen E. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Cognitive Bias Modification ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Extensive Investigation ◽  
Research Gaps ◽  
Addictive Disorders ◽  
Bias Modification ◽  
Patients Perspective

The advances in experimental psychology have led to the discovery of unconscious, automatic biases (attentional and approach biases) that account for the lapse and relapses amongst individuals with addictive disorders. To date, there has been extensive investigation into the assessment and modification of attention biases amongst individuals with the highly prevalent substance use disorders. Alternative modalities, such as technology, has also been evaluated for the delivery of these interventions. Given this, the specific objectives of this perspective article are in highlighting the emerging knowledge that has accrued over the last three years, and in addressing several of the research gaps in the previous article. Firstly, this perspective article will examine the evidence for biases and bias modification amongst the highly prevalent substance use disorders. This article will also examine how such bias modification has been utilized clinically. Secondly, this perspective article will also examine how technology has been applied to these bias modification interventions. Thirdly, this article will also examine the literature to highlight the biological underpinnings following bias modification. Fourthly, this article also examines the limitations of existing bias modification paradigms and methods taken to better these conventional interventions. The article concludes with highlighting the outstanding gaps in the current knowledge. To date, there remains mixed evidence for the modification of attention biases; and there are a paucity of studies examining the effectiveness of mobile delivery of bias intervention. Only one study has considered patients’ perspective in the development of an intervention. There remained several gaps in the knowledge, which future research could address.

scholarly journals Attentional bias modification for addictive behaviors: clinical implications

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Miles Cox ◽  
Javad S. Fadardi ◽  
James M. Intriligator ◽  
Eric Klinger
Keyword(s):  
Attentional Bias ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Addictive Behaviors ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Drinking Alcohol ◽  
Attentional Bias Modification ◽  
Attentional Training ◽  
Training Techniques ◽  
Addictive Substance ◽  
Bias Modification

When a person has a goal of drinking alcohol or using another addictive substance, the person appears to be automatically distracted by stimuli related to the goal. Because the attentional bias might propel the person to use the substance, an intervention might help modify it. In this article, we discuss techniques that have been developed to help people overcome their attentional bias for alcohol, smoking-related stimuli, drugs, or unhealthy food. We also discuss how these techniques are being adapted for use on mobile devices. The latter would allow people with an addictive behavior to use the attentional training in privacy and as frequently as needed. The attentional training techniques discussed here appear to have several advantages. They are inexpensive, can be fun to use, and have flexibility in when, where, and how often they are used. The evidence so far also suggests that they are effective.

scholarly journals Combining attentional bias modification with dorsolateral prefrontal rTMS does not attenuate maladaptive attentional processing

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonore Bovy ◽  
Martin Möbius ◽  
Martin Dresler ◽  
Guillén Fernández ◽  
Alan Sanfey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Attentional Bias ◽  
Attentional Processing ◽  
Attentional Bias Modification ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal ◽  
Bias Modification

scholarly journals Attentional bias modification encourages healthy eating

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naomi Kakoschke ◽  
Eva Kemps ◽  
Marika Tiggemann
Keyword(s):  
Attentional Bias ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Attentional Bias Modification ◽  
Bias Modification

scholarly journals A dismantling study on imaginal retraining in smokers

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffen Moritz ◽  
Josefine Gehlenborg ◽  
Janina Wirtz ◽  
Leonie Ascone ◽  
Simone Kühn
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Cognitive Bias ◽  
Mood Induction ◽  
Cognitive Bias Modification ◽  
Significant Decline ◽  
Behavioral Addictions ◽  
Multiple Components ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Bias Modification

AbstractImaginal retraining is a noncomputerized variant of cognitive bias modification, an intervention aimed at reducing craving in substance use disorders and behavioral addictions. We conducted a dismantling study to elucidate which of its multiple components are effective and hence essential ingredients of the training and which are ineffective (and hence perhaps dispensable) in reducing craving. We randomized 187 smokers to one out of six conditions that instructed participants to perform a brief intervention. In four of these, participants were instructed to perform isolated components of the imaginal retraining protocol, and in the two other conditions participants either suppressed or simply observed (control condition) the image of a cigarette. Before and after the intervention, participants were asked to rate their level of craving and how pleasant they found three smoking-related images. We examined within-group changes by means of paired t-tests separately across conditions (trial registration: DRKS00021044). Mental distancing from cigarettes (without a corresponding actual physical movement; non-motor retraining) led to a significant decline in craving (paired t-test), which remained significant when compared to the control condition. The effects of other components of the retraining were less consistent. The present study shows that a single therapeutic “dose” of distinct components involved in imaginal retraining can reduce craving for cigarettes. Future trials should investigate the effectiveness of components of imaginal retraining not yet tested (e.g., mood induction) and whether combinations and repetition of single components strengthen or dilute efficacy.

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