Web-Based Cognitive Bias Modification Program for Young People With Social Anxiety and Hazardous Alcohol Use: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy Study
BackgroundInterpretation bias modification (IBM) and approach bias modification (ApBM) cognitive retraining interventions can be efficacious adjunctive treatments for improving social anxiety and alcohol use problems. However, previous trials have not examined the combination...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JMIR Publications
2023-10-01
|
| Series: | JMIR Formative Research |
| Online Access: | https://formative.jmir.org/2023/1/e46008 |
| _version_ | 1827783760306765824 |
|---|---|
| author | Katrina Prior Elske Salemink Monique Piggott Victoria Manning Reinout W Wiers Bethany A Teachman Maree Teesson Andrew J Baillie Alison Mahoney Lauren McLellan Nicola C Newton Lexine A Stapinski |
| author_facet | Katrina Prior Elske Salemink Monique Piggott Victoria Manning Reinout W Wiers Bethany A Teachman Maree Teesson Andrew J Baillie Alison Mahoney Lauren McLellan Nicola C Newton Lexine A Stapinski |
| author_sort | Katrina Prior |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundInterpretation bias modification (IBM) and approach bias modification (ApBM) cognitive retraining interventions can be efficacious adjunctive treatments for improving social anxiety and alcohol use problems. However, previous trials have not examined the combination of these interventions in a young, comorbid sample.
ObjectiveThis study aims to describe the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a web-based IBM+ApBM program for young adults with social anxiety and hazardous alcohol use (“Re-Train Your Brain”) when delivered in conjunction with treatment as usual (TAU).
MethodsThe study involved a 3-arm randomized controlled pilot trial in which treatment-seeking young adults (aged 18-30 y) with co-occurring social anxiety and hazardous alcohol use were randomized to receive (1) the “integrated” Re-Train Your Brain program, where each session included both IBM and ApBM (50:50 ratio), plus TAU (35/100, 35%); (2) the “alternating” Re-Train Your Brain program, where each session focused on IBM or ApBM in an alternating pattern, plus TAU (32/100, 32%); or (3) TAU only (33/100, 33%). Primary outcomes included feasibility and acceptability, and secondary efficacy outcomes included changes in cognitive biases, social anxiety symptoms, and alcohol use. Assessments were conducted at baseline, after the intervention period (6 weeks after baseline), and 12 weeks after baseline.
ResultsBoth Re-Train Your Brain program formats were feasible and acceptable for young adults. When coupled with TAU, both integrated and alternating programs resulted in greater self-reported improvements than TAU only in anxiety interpretation biases (at the 6-week follow-up; Cohen d=0.80 and Cohen d=0.89) and comorbid interpretation biases (at the 12-week follow-up; Cohen d=1.53 and Cohen d=1.67). In addition, the alternating group reported larger improvements over the control group in generalized social anxiety symptoms (at the 12-week follow-up; Cohen d=0.83) and alcohol cravings (at the 6-week follow-up; Cohen d=0.81). There were null effects on all other variables and no differences between the intervention groups in efficacy outcomes.
ConclusionsShould these findings be replicated in a larger randomized controlled trial, Re-Train Your Brain has the potential to be a scalable, low-cost, and non–labor-intensive adjunct intervention for targeting interpretation and comorbidity biases as well as generalized anxiety and alcohol-related outcomes in the real world.
Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12620001273976; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=364131
International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.2196/28667 |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:54:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8f2acccd5f0a49b78726a011fa08e715 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2561-326X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:54:08Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Formative Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-8f2acccd5f0a49b78726a011fa08e7152023-10-25T13:00:41ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Formative Research2561-326X2023-10-017e4600810.2196/46008Web-Based Cognitive Bias Modification Program for Young People With Social Anxiety and Hazardous Alcohol Use: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy StudyKatrina Priorhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7784-2885Elske Saleminkhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6885-2598Monique Piggotthttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5168-253XVictoria Manninghttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3908-5980Reinout W Wiershttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4312-9766Bethany A Teachmanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9031-9343Maree Teessonhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6744-463XAndrew J Bailliehttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3424-5703Alison Mahoneyhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1118-4055Lauren McLellanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4059-6577Nicola C Newtonhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6305-2623Lexine A Stapinskihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3656-4655 BackgroundInterpretation bias modification (IBM) and approach bias modification (ApBM) cognitive retraining interventions can be efficacious adjunctive treatments for improving social anxiety and alcohol use problems. However, previous trials have not examined the combination of these interventions in a young, comorbid sample. ObjectiveThis study aims to describe the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a web-based IBM+ApBM program for young adults with social anxiety and hazardous alcohol use (“Re-Train Your Brain”) when delivered in conjunction with treatment as usual (TAU). MethodsThe study involved a 3-arm randomized controlled pilot trial in which treatment-seeking young adults (aged 18-30 y) with co-occurring social anxiety and hazardous alcohol use were randomized to receive (1) the “integrated” Re-Train Your Brain program, where each session included both IBM and ApBM (50:50 ratio), plus TAU (35/100, 35%); (2) the “alternating” Re-Train Your Brain program, where each session focused on IBM or ApBM in an alternating pattern, plus TAU (32/100, 32%); or (3) TAU only (33/100, 33%). Primary outcomes included feasibility and acceptability, and secondary efficacy outcomes included changes in cognitive biases, social anxiety symptoms, and alcohol use. Assessments were conducted at baseline, after the intervention period (6 weeks after baseline), and 12 weeks after baseline. ResultsBoth Re-Train Your Brain program formats were feasible and acceptable for young adults. When coupled with TAU, both integrated and alternating programs resulted in greater self-reported improvements than TAU only in anxiety interpretation biases (at the 6-week follow-up; Cohen d=0.80 and Cohen d=0.89) and comorbid interpretation biases (at the 12-week follow-up; Cohen d=1.53 and Cohen d=1.67). In addition, the alternating group reported larger improvements over the control group in generalized social anxiety symptoms (at the 12-week follow-up; Cohen d=0.83) and alcohol cravings (at the 6-week follow-up; Cohen d=0.81). There were null effects on all other variables and no differences between the intervention groups in efficacy outcomes. ConclusionsShould these findings be replicated in a larger randomized controlled trial, Re-Train Your Brain has the potential to be a scalable, low-cost, and non–labor-intensive adjunct intervention for targeting interpretation and comorbidity biases as well as generalized anxiety and alcohol-related outcomes in the real world. Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12620001273976; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=364131 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.2196/28667https://formative.jmir.org/2023/1/e46008 |
| spellingShingle | Katrina Prior Elske Salemink Monique Piggott Victoria Manning Reinout W Wiers Bethany A Teachman Maree Teesson Andrew J Baillie Alison Mahoney Lauren McLellan Nicola C Newton Lexine A Stapinski Web-Based Cognitive Bias Modification Program for Young People With Social Anxiety and Hazardous Alcohol Use: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy Study JMIR Formative Research |
| title | Web-Based Cognitive Bias Modification Program for Young People With Social Anxiety and Hazardous Alcohol Use: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy Study |
| title_full | Web-Based Cognitive Bias Modification Program for Young People With Social Anxiety and Hazardous Alcohol Use: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy Study |
| title_fullStr | Web-Based Cognitive Bias Modification Program for Young People With Social Anxiety and Hazardous Alcohol Use: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Web-Based Cognitive Bias Modification Program for Young People With Social Anxiety and Hazardous Alcohol Use: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy Study |
| title_short | Web-Based Cognitive Bias Modification Program for Young People With Social Anxiety and Hazardous Alcohol Use: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy Study |
| title_sort | web based cognitive bias modification program for young people with social anxiety and hazardous alcohol use feasibility acceptability and preliminary efficacy study |
| url | https://formative.jmir.org/2023/1/e46008 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT katrinaprior webbasedcognitivebiasmodificationprogramforyoungpeoplewithsocialanxietyandhazardousalcoholusefeasibilityacceptabilityandpreliminaryefficacystudy AT elskesalemink webbasedcognitivebiasmodificationprogramforyoungpeoplewithsocialanxietyandhazardousalcoholusefeasibilityacceptabilityandpreliminaryefficacystudy AT moniquepiggott webbasedcognitivebiasmodificationprogramforyoungpeoplewithsocialanxietyandhazardousalcoholusefeasibilityacceptabilityandpreliminaryefficacystudy AT victoriamanning webbasedcognitivebiasmodificationprogramforyoungpeoplewithsocialanxietyandhazardousalcoholusefeasibilityacceptabilityandpreliminaryefficacystudy AT reinoutwwiers webbasedcognitivebiasmodificationprogramforyoungpeoplewithsocialanxietyandhazardousalcoholusefeasibilityacceptabilityandpreliminaryefficacystudy AT bethanyateachman webbasedcognitivebiasmodificationprogramforyoungpeoplewithsocialanxietyandhazardousalcoholusefeasibilityacceptabilityandpreliminaryefficacystudy AT mareeteesson webbasedcognitivebiasmodificationprogramforyoungpeoplewithsocialanxietyandhazardousalcoholusefeasibilityacceptabilityandpreliminaryefficacystudy AT andrewjbaillie webbasedcognitivebiasmodificationprogramforyoungpeoplewithsocialanxietyandhazardousalcoholusefeasibilityacceptabilityandpreliminaryefficacystudy AT alisonmahoney webbasedcognitivebiasmodificationprogramforyoungpeoplewithsocialanxietyandhazardousalcoholusefeasibilityacceptabilityandpreliminaryefficacystudy AT laurenmclellan webbasedcognitivebiasmodificationprogramforyoungpeoplewithsocialanxietyandhazardousalcoholusefeasibilityacceptabilityandpreliminaryefficacystudy AT nicolacnewton webbasedcognitivebiasmodificationprogramforyoungpeoplewithsocialanxietyandhazardousalcoholusefeasibilityacceptabilityandpreliminaryefficacystudy AT lexineastapinski webbasedcognitivebiasmodificationprogramforyoungpeoplewithsocialanxietyandhazardousalcoholusefeasibilityacceptabilityandpreliminaryefficacystudy |