Alcohol Cognitive Bias Modification training for problem drinkers over the web

Abstract

Following successful outcomes of cognitive bias modification (CBM) programs for alcoholism in clinical and community samples, the present study investigated whether different varieties of CBM (attention control training and approach-bias re-training) could be delivered successfully in a fully automated web-based way and whether these interventions would help self-selected problem drinkers to reduce their drinking. Participants were recruited through online advertising, which resulted in 697 interested participants, of whom 615 were screened in. Of the 314 who initiated training, 136 completed a pretest, four sessions of computerized training and a posttest. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions (attention control or one of three varieties of approach-bias re-training) or a sham-training control condition. The general pattern of findings was that participants in all conditions (including participants in the control-training condition) reduced their drinking. It is suggested that integrating CBM with online cognitive and motivational interventions could improve results.

Instructing implicit processes: When instructions to approach or avoid influence implicit but not explicit evaluation

“…Following this reasoning, our current results may indicate that AA instructions could play an important role in these AA training effects. Preliminary evidence supporting this idea was found in a recent study by Wiers et al (2014) where therapeutic effects of 'avoid alcohol' training at one month follow-up were more robust if participants had received explicit instructions to push alcohol away in addition to the re-training procedure. Future research might consider whether replacing or complementing AA training with AA instructions may improve the therapeutic effectiveness of AA training.…”

Addiction specialist's role in liver transplantation procedures for alcoholic liver disease

“…Specifically, complex attentional-and approach bias modification strategies have proven significant results both as stand alone and on top of treatment as usual procedures. Remarkable, these interventions not only improve alcohol outcome, but have recently also shown to change underlying neurobiological cue-reactivity pathways [37,38] . The advantages of online treatment modalities are multiple; low barrier for patients with limited mobility or time availability, anonymity, and lower cost especially when (quasi) fully automated.…”

Gamified Cognitive Bias Modification Interventions for Psychiatric Disorders: Review (Preprint)

“…In Wiers W et al (2015)'s study (11), they administered an attention control training and approach bias retraining intervention for 136 participants with problem drinking and reported a reduction in drinking across all the intervention groups. Similarly, William A et al (2015) harnessed the potential of web-technologies for the delivery of an online cognitive bias modification training and reported it being effective in reducing depressive and distress symptoms (12).…”