Attention Bias Modification for Social Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Social anxiety disorder, one of the most common anxiety disorders, is known as a chronic psychiatric disorder.

The present study is aimed at investigating the effects of computer-based attention training on attention bias modification for social anxiety disorder.

This randomized controlled trial was performed on 30 students who suffered from social anxiety disorder. All of them filled out the social phobia inventory (SPIN; Connor et al.), Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS), and social anxiety disorder severity questionnaire (SCSQ) and attended a clinical interview. The participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15), and then they took part in a computer-based pretest program of attention bias measurement (ABM). The experimental group attended 10 sessions of computer-based attention control training program. Both of the groups participated in a computer-based posttest program of ABM. The data were analyzed using the analysis of covariance.

Our findings indicated that the computer-based attention control training contributed to reducing attention bias towards the angry (Eta Square = 0.34), surprised (Eta Square = 0.23), and happy (Eta Square = 0.19) expressions, while it did not have any effects on disgusted, fearful, and sad expressions.

Attention training program is an effective method to modify attention bias towards some of the emotional effects and can be employed in therapeutic interventions