scholarly journals Protocol for a Systematic Review of Gamified Attention Bias Interventions for Psychiatric Disorders (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhang Melvyn ◽  
Jiangbo Ying ◽  
Roger CM Ho
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Attention Bias ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Qualitative Synthesis ◽  
Attention Bias Modification ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Bias Modification

UNSTRUCTURED Background Attention biases are subconscious processes that tend to result in individuals having increased attention for threatening or stimuli with high salience. These biases have been posited to be involved in the psychopathologies of several psychiatric disorders. Technological advances have transformed how such interventions are being delivered. Gamification technologies are increasingly being used for bias modification, as it could help increase motivation to train and make these tasks more engaging. While there are published research on gamification and attention bias, there remains several gaps in knowledge. Objectives The primary objective of the review is thus to identify attention bias modification games that have been published in the literature and to synthesise the current evidence for such interventions and to identify, if possible, the rationale for gamification. The secondary objective is to determine if gamified attention or cognitive bias modification influences secondary outcomes measures, as such anxiety levels or severity of depressive symptoms. Methods To achieve the objective of this review, a systematic review will be undertaken. For the studies that are identified, they will be reviewed by independent assessors and screened against our predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Cochrane risk of bias tool will be used for assessment of the risk of biases in randomised trials that have been identified. The evidence will be synthesized by means of a qualitative synthesis. Results We expect that the review will be completed 12 months from the publication of this protocol. Conclusions This review is pertinent as it helps to provide an overview of the evidence base for gamified attention bias interventions. The findings from the current review will help in the future conceptualisation of gamified attention bias interventions.

scholarly journals A Smartphone Attention Bias App for Individuals With Addictive Disorders: Feasibility and Acceptability Study

10.2196/15465 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. e15465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melvyn Zhang ◽  
Jiangbo Ying ◽  
Syidda B Amron ◽  
Zaakira Mahreen ◽  
Guo Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Participatory Design ◽  
Attention Bias ◽  
Acceptance Rate ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Qualitative Synthesis ◽  
Attention Bias Modification ◽  
Addictive Disorders ◽  
Health Technologies ◽  
Bias Modification

Background Conventional psychology therapies are unable to address automatic biases that result in individuals relapsing into their substance use disorder. Advances in experimental psychology have led to a better understanding of attention and approach biases and methods to modify these biases. Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of bias modification among clinical cohorts. The advances in mobile health technologies have allowed remote delivery of these interventions. To date, there is a lack of studies examining bias modification in a substance-using non-Western sample. Objective This study was designed to determine the feasibility of an attention bias modification intervention and an attention bias modification smartphone app for the reduction of attention biases among treatment-seeking individuals. The secondary aim is to determine the acceptability of the intervention. Methods A feasibility study was conducted among inpatients who were in their rehabilitation phase at the National Addictions Management Service. Participants were to complete a set of baseline questionnaires, and on each day that they are in the study, undertake an attention bias assessment and modification task while completing a visual analogue scale to assess their craving. Feasibility was determined by the acceptance rate of participation and participants’ adherence to the interventions. Acceptability was assessed by a perception questionnaire. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 22. A thematic analysis approach was used in the qualitative synthesis of users’ perceptions. Results Of the 40 participants invited to participate in the feasibility study, 10 declined, yielding an acceptance rate of 75%. Of the recruited participants, 6 participants were diagnosed with alcohol dependence; 17, with opioid dependence; 2, with cannabis dependence; and 5, with stimulant dependence. In addition, of the final 30 participants, 11 (37%) failed to complete all the planned interventions and 22 (73%) completed the perspective questionnaires; of these 22 participants, 100% rated the app as extremely and very easy, 77% rated it as extremely or very interactive, 54% rated it as extremely or very motivating, and 33% reported a change in their confidence levels. Conclusions Our results highlight the feasibility of recruiting participants to undertake attention bias modification interventions. Participants generally accept use of a mobile version of such an intervention. Nevertheless, our acceptability data indicate that there could be improvements in the existing app, and a participatory design approach might be helpful in its future conceptualization. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/11822

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Web-based Cognitive Bias Intervention for Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review Protocol (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melvyn Zhang ◽  
Jiangbo Ying ◽  
Guo Song ◽  
Daniel SS Fung ◽  
Helen Smith
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Cognitive Bias ◽  
Cognitive Biases ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Bias Modification ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Bias Modification

UNSTRUCTURED Background: Traditional psychological therapies focus mainly on modification of individuals’ conscious decision-making process. Unconscious processes such as cognitive biases have been found to be accountable for various psychiatric psychopathologies. The advances in technologies have transformed how bias modification programs are being delivered. Objective: We seek to synthesize the current evidence of web-based cognitive bias modification for psychiatric disorders, by identifying the range of conditions targeted and their current efficacy. We wish to determine if web-based attention bias modification is as efficacious as compared to conventional methods. Methods and analysis: A systematic review will be conducted, and all studies types will be included. There will not be any restrictions on the participants included in the study. A search will be conducted on the respective databases up till 2017. Selection of studies will be by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses (PRISMA-P) guidelines. Quality assessment of the included studies will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (for randomized trials) and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for other study designs. A narrative synthesises of the identified articles will be conducted. A meta-analysis will be considered, only if there are sufficient articles in a domain for statistical analysis. Ethical approval for the current protocol and the planned systematic review was not required. Results: Results synthesized would be disseminated using conference presentation or published works in peer-reviewed journals. Conclusions: This review is of importance given how technology transformed the delivery of conventional therapies. The findings from this review will provide guidance for future research involving technology and cognitive bias modification interventions. Registration details: International Prospective Register for Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) number 2017 CRD42017074754

Attention bias modification for social anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 76-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Heeren ◽  
Cristina Mogoașe ◽  
Pierre Philippot ◽  
Richard J. McNally
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Attention Bias ◽  
Attention Bias Modification ◽  
Bias Modification

scholarly journals A Smartphone Attention Bias App for Individuals With Addictive Disorders: Feasibility and Acceptability Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melvyn Zhang ◽  
Jiangbo Ying ◽  
Syidda B Amron ◽  
Zaakira Mahreen ◽  
Guo Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Participatory Design ◽  
Attention Bias ◽  
Acceptance Rate ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Qualitative Synthesis ◽  
Attention Bias Modification ◽  
Addictive Disorders ◽  
Health Technologies ◽  
Bias Modification

BACKGROUND Conventional psychology therapies are unable to address automatic biases that result in individuals relapsing into their substance use disorder. Advances in experimental psychology have led to a better understanding of attention and approach biases and methods to modify these biases. Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of bias modification among clinical cohorts. The advances in mobile health technologies have allowed remote delivery of these interventions. To date, there is a lack of studies examining bias modification in a substance-using non-Western sample. OBJECTIVE This study was designed to determine the feasibility of an attention bias modification intervention and an attention bias modification smartphone app for the reduction of attention biases among treatment-seeking individuals. The secondary aim is to determine the acceptability of the intervention. METHODS A feasibility study was conducted among inpatients who were in their rehabilitation phase at the National Addictions Management Service. Participants were to complete a set of baseline questionnaires, and on each day that they are in the study, undertake an attention bias assessment and modification task while completing a visual analogue scale to assess their craving. Feasibility was determined by the acceptance rate of participation and participants’ adherence to the interventions. Acceptability was assessed by a perception questionnaire. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 22. A thematic analysis approach was used in the qualitative synthesis of users’ perceptions. RESULTS Of the 40 participants invited to participate in the feasibility study, 10 declined, yielding an acceptance rate of 75%. Of the recruited participants, 6 participants were diagnosed with alcohol dependence; 17, with opioid dependence; 2, with cannabis dependence; and 5, with stimulant dependence. In addition, of the final 30 participants, 11 (37%) failed to complete all the planned interventions and 22 (73%) completed the perspective questionnaires; of these 22 participants, 100% rated the app as extremely and very easy, 77% rated it as extremely or very interactive, 54% rated it as extremely or very motivating, and 33% reported a change in their confidence levels. CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight the feasibility of recruiting participants to undertake attention bias modification interventions. Participants generally accept use of a mobile version of such an intervention. Nevertheless, our acceptability data indicate that there could be improvements in the existing app, and a participatory design approach might be helpful in its future conceptualization. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/11822

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