The Long-term Efficacy Of Attention Bias Modification Treatment For Individuals With Depressive Disorders

Background and objection:Cognitive theory of depression speculates that negative attention bias plays a causal role in the occurrence and symptom maintenance of depression.To explore this effect,researchers try to use attention bias modification training(ABMT)to treat depression disorders,but the results are confused.To explore the short-term and long-term effects of ABMT on the treatment of depressive disorder,this study observed the short-term and long-term effects of ABMT on the improvement of depressive symptoms in individuals with depression disorder and followed them for 1 year.Methods:Twenty-four undergraduates with depression disorder who were willing to participate in the study were selected from college students(n=6,884)by 2-stage interviews.They were randomly assigned to attention bias modification training(ABMT,n=12)and placebo condition(n=12).ABMT participants completed 13 sessions training during3-weeks.In both the ABMT and placebo conditions,participants completed 4 sessions training during 2-weeks after 13 weeks of training.The change of depression symptom severity,depression symptom count and attention bias were assessed by clinical interview and dot-probe task as primary index.Self-rated depressive symptoms,trait anxiety,rumination,dysfunctional attitude,suicidal ideation,stressful life events and Salivary cortisol concentration are measured as secondary index.Results:(1)Attention bias:In terms of mean value,peak value and variability of neutral-positive word pair,the interaction effect of group×time was significant(F=3.26-4.95,p=.01-.03,η2=.18～.25).(2)Depression symptom severity:the cognitive symptoms severity showed group×time significant interaction effects(F=2.73,p=.02,η~2=.39).Hamilton depression rating scale showed group×time marginal significant interaction effect(F=1.93,p=.09,η2=.09).(3)The self-reported depression symptoms:depression symptoms,trait anxiety,rumination,stress life event revealed significant main effects in both training and placebo condition(F=2.90 3.97,p<.01,η~2=.14～.18)(4)Clinical significance:the proportion of the clinical significance of the changes of BDI-II scores at 7 weeks and 6 months after pre-training was significantly higher than placebo condition(chi-square=3.88-4.97,p=.05-.03,φ=.40～.45).(5)Salivary cortisol concentration:there was no significant difference in group,time or group×time between the ABMT and the placebo group(F=.01～1.41,p>.05).Conclusions:Attention bias modification training have short-term and long-term therapeutic effects on individuals with mild to moderate depressive disorders.