shirin khodadadi arkavini

Cognitive bias modification procedures are considered therapist-independent, computer-based, and relatively new interventions, which are mainly used as outpatient therapies for anxiety, emotional disorders, and different types of addiction. This paper aimed to present the latest findings of the studies on cognitive bias modification to enhance the knowledge of experts and researchers of the effects of such procedures in both practice and theory. At first, cognitive bias modification was briefly defined. Then, its different procedures (attention bias modification, interpretation bias modification, and memory bias modification) and the therapies based on these modification procedures were introduced. Then, the studies conducted on the effectiveness of such therapies were reviewed and their results were discussed.

All the studies suggested, in a relatively consistent and significant way, that it is possible to modify cognitive bias processes in various disorders, such as anxiety and emotional disorders, mood disorders, chronic pain, obsessive disorders, addiction, and intellectual rumination. Furthermore, computer programs for cognitive bias modification and dot-probe tasks are suitable alternatives or complementary options for reducing or treating clinical symptoms and cognitive biases. In addition to the need for inventing therapy applications and adapting cultural characteristics of English versions for the Iranian population, new investigations are required to evaluate both the clinical crowd and the effectiveness of these modification procedures for various disorders.

Aim and Background:

Intimacy and marital compatibility between couples maintain and strengthen the family foundation. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a methodology based on cognitive bias correction and to determine the effectiveness of its training on bias, intimacy and adaptation of couples with marital incompatibility.

Methods and Materials:

The research method was quasi-experimental and the design of the pretest, posttest research was with the control group. The statistical population of the study was couples with marital problems who referred to counseling centers in Arak in 1398. The sample consisted of 16 couples (32 people) with marital incompatibility and cognitive bias who were selected by available methods. Data were collected using the Lock-Wallace (1959) Compatibility Questionnaire, Walker-Thompson (1983) Marital Intimacy Questionnaire, and the Point-of-Exploration Assignment Software (2015). Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data and examine the relationships between variables.  

The results showed that the treatment method based on the correction of cognitive bias has an acceptable content validity. Also, the results of the educational intervention showed that the training of the method significantly reduces the cognitive bias of the couple and increases the intimacy and adaptation of the couple (P≤0.001).

It seems that training in the treatment method based on cognitive bias correction can be considered as a valid and effective program to reduce cognitive bias and increase intimacy and compatibility of incompatible couples.