Attentional Bias Modification Through Eye-tracker Methodology (ABMET)
- Conditions
- DepressionAlteration of Cognitive FunctionCognitive Deficits
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Gaze trainingBehavioral: Placebo intervention
- Registration Number
- NCT02847793
- Lead Sponsor
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid
- Brief Summary
Cognitive biases are a hallmark of depression but there is scarce research on whether these biases can be directly modified by using specific cognitive training techniques.
The aim of this study will be targeting and modifying specifically relevant attention biases in participants with subclinical depression using eye-tracking methodologies. This innovative approach has been proposed as a promising future line of intervention in Attention Bias Modification procedures (Koster \& Hoorelbeke, 2015).
Recent findings suggest that depression is characterized by a double attentional bias (Duque \& Vazquez, 2015), More specifically, depressed individuals have difficulties both to disengage from negative materials (e.g., sad faces) and to engage with positive materials (e.g., happy faces). Thus, training procedures to change attentional biases should target these two separate components.
- Detailed Description
The aim of this study will be to apply eye-tracking methods to modify specific components of attentional bias in depression. Eye-tracking technology enables us to train attention by following strict performance and time-based criteria as well as to specify the components of attention (i.e., disengagement from negative information, engagement and maintenance in positive information) to be targeted in the training, critical to providing a theory-driven intervention (Koster, Baert et al., 2010). In the case of depression, there is also some evidence from eye-tracking studies showing that recovery from an induced negative mood is better when individuals spontaneously direct their gaze towards positive stimuli (Sanchez et al., 2014). Thus extant evidence on attentional biases in depression suggest that modification of these biases could be a fruitful way to change participants' mood.
Although initial positive results of ABM led some authors to propose it as an alternative treatment for emotional disorders (Bar-Haim, 2010; MacLeod \& Holmes, 2012), some recent meta-analysis (Mogoase et al. 2014; Cristea et al., 2015) have reduced the enthusiasm of those previous claims.Yet, it is likely that modest results of ABM procedures in depression are, in part, based on flawed methodologies. The proposed study aims to rectify several limitations of previous designs while opening a new strategy, based in training ocular movements, to modify attentional patterns. With a series of methodological and conceptual improvements (i.e., trial-by- trial feedback, use of different tasks to measure attentional bias and to do the ABM, use of a yoked-group design to control for the time exposure to the emotional stimuli in the control group, and use of a stress-test to measure transfer of the training to a different task), it is expected that some limitations found in previous studies can be overcome. The general aim of the study will be to train adaptive attentional biases (i.e., training the maintenance of gaze towards positive stimuli). The use of the new ABM in a sample of dysphoric participants will allow us to test if training visual selective attention using eye-tracking methodology could be a promising venue for future ABM procedures more solidly grounded on current theories of depression.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 32
- A score of >13 in the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)
- Impaired vision
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Gaze training Gaze training Participants are required to maintain their gaze in a given picture (e.g., a happy face), for a given time (i.e., 750ms vs 1500 ms) to advance to the next trial Placebo intervention Placebo intervention Using a matching procedure (i.e., yoked control group), participants are required to maintain their gaze in a given picture (e.g., a happy face), for the same average time that their counterparts in the Gaze training group (i.e. Experimental group)
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Assessment of current mood (PANAS) Change from Baseline to the end of the 2-day intervention.It will be administered 12 min before the first session of training and then immediately after finishing the 2nd session of training A scale measuring current general positive and negative mood
Assessment of current mood (EVEA) Change from Baseline to the end of the 2-day intervention. It will be administered 12 min before the first session of training and then immediately after finishing the 2nd session of training. A scale measuring current anger, happiness, anxiety and depressed mood
Attentional Bias Assessment Task (ABA, Sanchez et al., 2013) Change from Baseline to the end of the 2-day intervention. It will be administered immediately before the first session of training and then 5 min after finishing the 2nd session of training An eye-tracking task to measure gaze patterns towards emotional faces
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Beck Depression Inventory-II Change from Baseline to the end of the 2-day intervention. It will be administered 20 min before the first session of training and then 20 min after finishing the 2nd session of training Symptoms of depression
Beck Anxiety Inventory Change from Baseline to the end of the 2-day intervention. It will be administered 20 min before the first session of training and then 20 min after finishing the 2nd session of training. Symptoms of anxiety
Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS) Change from Baseline to the end of the 2-day intervention. It will be administered 20 min before the first session of training and then 20 min after finishing the 2nd session of training Ruminative style
White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI) Change from Baseline to the end of the 2-day intervention. It will be administered 20 min before the first session of training and then 20 min after finishing the 2nd session of training. Tendency to suppress distressing thoughts and images
Behavioral Activation System (BAS)- Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) Scale Change from Baseline to the end of the 2-day intervention. It will be administered 20 min before the first session of training and then 20 min after finishing the 2nd session of training. A single scale measuring attitudes and behaviors related to the Behavioral Activation System and the Behavioral Items related to sensitivity to punishment and rewards
Pemberton Happiness Index Change from Baseline to the end of the 2-day intervention. It will be administered 20 min before the first session of training and then 20 min after finishing the 2nd session of training. Integrative measure of well-being
Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) Change from Baseline to the end of the 2-day intervention. It will be administered 20 min before the first session of training and then 20 min after finishing the 2nd session of training. Life satisfaction
Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) Change from Baseline to the end of the 2-day intervention. It will be administered 20 min before the first session of training and then 20 min after finishing the 2nd session of training. Dispositional optimism
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
School of Psychology
🇪🇸Madrid, Spain