Appraisal-based cognitive bias modification in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomised clinical trial
Publication year
2019Author(s)
Number of pages
12 p.
Source
European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 10, 1, (2019), article 1625690ISSN
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

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Organization
SW OZ BSI KLP
Psychiatry
Journal title
European Journal of Psychotraumatology
Volume
vol. 10
Issue
iss. 1
Languages used
English (eng)
Subject
All institutes and research themes of the Radboud University Medical Center; Experimental Psychopathology and Treatment; Radboudumc 13: Stress-related disorders DCMN: Donders Center for Medical NeuroscienceAbstract
Background: Negative appraisals of the trauma and its sequelae play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Experimental studies have shown promise in reducing negative appraisal through Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) training. Objective: To determine whether an online CBM training designed to modify dysfunctional appraisals is successful in reducing appraisal bias in PTSD patients. Method: In this double-blinded 2-arm randomised clinical trial, 107 patients with PTSD were randomly allocated to active (n = 49) or control online CBM training (n = 57). Training comprised the completion of four sessions of online CBM training within one week. Change in bias, as measured by a scenario task and questionnaire (i.e. PostTraumatic Cognition Inventory), was the primary outcome. Secondary outcome included change in PTSD symptoms. Assessments took place prior to training, during training sessions, post-training and at 1- and 6-month follow-up. Results: Intent-to-treat analysis indicated that there was no interaction effect of condition by time. Regardless of training condition, participants showed a small to moderate decline in appraisal bias and PTSD symptoms from pre- to post-training. In both conditions, bias change during training sessions was related to decline in PTSD symptomatology following training. No moderators of outcome were found. Conclusions: There was no evidence that active training was more effective than control training in reducing dysfunctional appraisals. In both conditions, participants showed a decline in dysfunctional appraisals and PTSD symptoms following training. Importantly, bias reduction during training was related to PTSD symptom decline following training. Explanations and future research directions are discussed.
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- Academic publications [205116]
- Electronic publications [103337]
- Faculty of Medical Sciences [81054]
- Faculty of Social Sciences [27396]
- Open Access publications [71829]
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