Attentional Bias in Anxiety Disorders Following Cognitive Behavioral Treatment
Abstract
A substantive literature suggests that anxious people have an attentional bias toward threatening stimuli. To date, however, no systematic review has examined the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety on attentional bias. A better understanding of the extant literature on CBT and its effect on attentional bias can serve to bridge the gap between experimental research on cognitive bias and the implications for clinical treatment of anxiety disorders. The present review examined studies that measured the effects of CBT on attentional bias. Of the 13 studies reviewed, 10 demonstrated that attentional bias, as assessed by dichotic listening tasks, the emotional Stroop test, or probe detection tasks, was significantly reduced from pretreatment to posttreatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder, spider phobia, social phobia, and generalized anxiety disorder. Methodological issues are considered, and implications for cognitive behavioral treatments of anxiety are discussed.
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Some studies suggest that attentional bias can be sensitive to therapeutic change, showing significant reductions from pretreatment to post-treatment, and so it can be used as a tool for evaluating attentional processes involved in psychological disorders.
“However, some studies suggest that this variable can be sensitive to therapeutic change, showing significant reductions from pretreatment to post-treatment, and so it can be used as a tool for evaluating attentional processes involved in psychological disorders.29”
From Effectiveness of a projection-based augmented reality exposure system in treating cockroach phobia: Study protocol of a randomised controlled trial (2023) · cites this paper as [29]
A systematic review focused on attentional bias after cognitive-behavioural treatment concluded that, in general, attentional biases showed significant reductions after CBT in different populations with anxiety (generalised anxiety disorder, spider phobia, social phobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder).
“However, a systematic review focused on attentional bias after cognitive–behavioural treatment (CBT)29 concluded that, in general, attentional biases showed significant reductions after CBT in different populations with anxiety (generalised anxiety disorder, spider phobia, social phobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder).”
From Effectiveness of a projection-based augmented reality exposure system in treating cockroach phobia: Study protocol of a randomised controlled trial (2023) · cites this paper as [29]
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References 72 · Cited by 55
- Authors
- Tobon, J. I., Ouimet, A. J., & Dozois, D. J. A.
- Affiliations
- Western University (CA)
- Concordia University (CA)
- Venue
- Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy
- Publisher
- Springer Publishing Company
- Published
- 2011
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 114-129
- ISSN
- 0889-8391 (ISSN-L)
- 1938-887X
- OpenAlex
- W2027470493
- Cited by
- 55
- References
- 72
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 9.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Keywords
- attentional bias, anxiety disorders, cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive bias modification, dichotic listening, emotional Stroop task, probe detection, obsessive-compulsive disorder, spider phobia, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, treatment outcomes
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