Efficacy of a smartphone-based Cognitive Bias Modification program for emotion regulation: A randomized-controlled crossover trial
Previous research has identified maladaptive emotion regulation as a key factor in psychopathology. Thus, addressing emotion regulation via scalable, low-threshold digital interventions – such as smartphone-based Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) – holds important therapeutic potential. Using a rand...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Internet Interventions |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782924000125 |
| _version_ | 1797277394379210752 |
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| author | Fanny Alexandra Dietel Raphael Rupprecht Alexander Mohamed Seriyo Malte Post Bastian Sudhoff Jacqueline Reichart Matthias Berking Ulrike Buhlmann |
| author_facet | Fanny Alexandra Dietel Raphael Rupprecht Alexander Mohamed Seriyo Malte Post Bastian Sudhoff Jacqueline Reichart Matthias Berking Ulrike Buhlmann |
| author_sort | Fanny Alexandra Dietel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Previous research has identified maladaptive emotion regulation as a key factor in psychopathology. Thus, addressing emotion regulation via scalable, low-threshold digital interventions – such as smartphone-based Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) – holds important therapeutic potential. Using a randomized-controlled crossover trial, we tested the efficacy of an integrated CBM module within the Affect Regulation Training (ART, i.e., CBM-ART) that targeted emotion regulation through elements of appraisal-based and approach avoidance training.Undergraduate students reporting elevated stress were randomized to a one-week active intervention (Mindgames; including psychoeducation, a quiz, and CBM-ART; n = 40), active control training (Emo Shape; including placebo psychoeducation, a quiz, and a placebo swiping task; n = 36) or waitlist (n = 25). Before and after the intervention, we assessed emotion regulation, interpretation bias, stress and depression. We further tested post-training stress reactivity using an anagram task.Results indicated that the active intervention improved negative (OR = 0.35) and positive (OR = 2.40) interpretation biases and symptom measures (d = 0.52–0.87). However, active control training showed attenuated concurrent pre-post changes on interpretation biases (i.e., OR = 0.53 for negative, and OR = 1.49 for positive interpretations) and symptom measures (d = 0.26–0.91). The active intervention was rated positively in terms of acceptability and usability.These findings provide initial evidence for the efficacy and acceptability of an integrated app-based CBM intervention for emotion regulation in reducing interpretation biases and psychopathological symptoms, including stress. However, future studies should disentangle specific mechanisms underlying interventional effects. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:46:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d4d32e674e264757b8c1e2029625ebe0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-7829 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:46:54Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Internet Interventions |
| spelling | doaj.art-d4d32e674e264757b8c1e2029625ebe02024-03-05T04:29:50ZengElsevierInternet Interventions2214-78292024-03-0135100719Efficacy of a smartphone-based Cognitive Bias Modification program for emotion regulation: A randomized-controlled crossover trialFanny Alexandra Dietel0Raphael Rupprecht1Alexander Mohamed Seriyo2Malte Post3Bastian Sudhoff4Jacqueline Reichart5Matthias Berking6Ulrike Buhlmann7University of Osnabrueck, Germany; Corresponding author at: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Lise-Meitner-Str. 3, 49076 Osnabrueck, Germany.University of Muenster, GermanyUniversity of Muenster, GermanyUniversity of Muenster, GermanyUniversity of Muenster, GermanyUniversity of Muenster, GermanyFriedrich-Alexander University Erlangen, GermanyUniversity of Muenster, GermanyPrevious research has identified maladaptive emotion regulation as a key factor in psychopathology. Thus, addressing emotion regulation via scalable, low-threshold digital interventions – such as smartphone-based Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) – holds important therapeutic potential. Using a randomized-controlled crossover trial, we tested the efficacy of an integrated CBM module within the Affect Regulation Training (ART, i.e., CBM-ART) that targeted emotion regulation through elements of appraisal-based and approach avoidance training.Undergraduate students reporting elevated stress were randomized to a one-week active intervention (Mindgames; including psychoeducation, a quiz, and CBM-ART; n = 40), active control training (Emo Shape; including placebo psychoeducation, a quiz, and a placebo swiping task; n = 36) or waitlist (n = 25). Before and after the intervention, we assessed emotion regulation, interpretation bias, stress and depression. We further tested post-training stress reactivity using an anagram task.Results indicated that the active intervention improved negative (OR = 0.35) and positive (OR = 2.40) interpretation biases and symptom measures (d = 0.52–0.87). However, active control training showed attenuated concurrent pre-post changes on interpretation biases (i.e., OR = 0.53 for negative, and OR = 1.49 for positive interpretations) and symptom measures (d = 0.26–0.91). The active intervention was rated positively in terms of acceptability and usability.These findings provide initial evidence for the efficacy and acceptability of an integrated app-based CBM intervention for emotion regulation in reducing interpretation biases and psychopathological symptoms, including stress. However, future studies should disentangle specific mechanisms underlying interventional effects.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782924000125Emotion regulationStressCognitive Bias ModificationE-mental healthAffect regulation training |
| spellingShingle | Fanny Alexandra Dietel Raphael Rupprecht Alexander Mohamed Seriyo Malte Post Bastian Sudhoff Jacqueline Reichart Matthias Berking Ulrike Buhlmann Efficacy of a smartphone-based Cognitive Bias Modification program for emotion regulation: A randomized-controlled crossover trial Internet Interventions Emotion regulation Stress Cognitive Bias Modification E-mental health Affect regulation training |
| title | Efficacy of a smartphone-based Cognitive Bias Modification program for emotion regulation: A randomized-controlled crossover trial |
| title_full | Efficacy of a smartphone-based Cognitive Bias Modification program for emotion regulation: A randomized-controlled crossover trial |
| title_fullStr | Efficacy of a smartphone-based Cognitive Bias Modification program for emotion regulation: A randomized-controlled crossover trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Efficacy of a smartphone-based Cognitive Bias Modification program for emotion regulation: A randomized-controlled crossover trial |
| title_short | Efficacy of a smartphone-based Cognitive Bias Modification program for emotion regulation: A randomized-controlled crossover trial |
| title_sort | efficacy of a smartphone based cognitive bias modification program for emotion regulation a randomized controlled crossover trial |
| topic | Emotion regulation Stress Cognitive Bias Modification E-mental health Affect regulation training |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782924000125 |
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