» Articles » PMID: 24164417

Implementation of Approach Bias Re-training in Alcoholism-how Many Sessions Are Needed?

Overview
Specialty Psychiatry
Date 2013 Oct 30
PMID 24164417
Citations 39
Authors
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

Background: Computerized cognitive bias modification (CBM) programs have generated promising results regarding the treatment of alcohol dependence and anxiety disorders. However, there is hardly any research yet on the implementation of alcohol-CBM into clinical practice. This article addresses the question of the optimal number of training sessions for a specific form of CBM: approach bias re-training in alcohol-dependent patients.

Methods: Participants were 111 alcohol-dependent patients of an inpatient rehabilitation clinic. In addition to treatment as usual, they took part in a 12-session CBM protocol, aimed at re-training alcohol approach tendencies, with an adapted Alcohol Approach-Avoidance Task. Learning curves and 2-level fitted mean trends were analyzed. Furthermore, parameters of the fitted mean trend and information on the most effective number of training sessions were used to predict 1-year follow-up data.

Results: Two-level analyses revealed 6 training sessions to be the mean optimum, yet many patients improve further after that. Prediction of the individual optimum (speed of response) and parameters of the fitted mean trends failed. The linear term of the graph describing the mean trend of training effects, but not the speed of response, predicted 1-year follow-up data.

Conclusions: Suggestions for practical implementations of CBM are discussed.

Citing Articles

Approach Bias Modification for reducing Co-Occurring Alcohol and cannabis use among treatment-seeking Adolescents: Protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

Hahn A, Corcoran E, Danielson C Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2025; 44:101435.

PMID: 39944963 PMC: 11814518. DOI: 10.1016/j.conctc.2025.101435.


Effectiveness of Reducing Craving in Alcohol Use Disorder Using a Serious Game (SALIENCE): Randomized Controlled Trial.

Weber A, Shevchenko Y, Gerhardt S, Hoffmann S, Kiefer F, Vollstadt-Klein S JMIR Form Res. 2023; 7:e42194.

PMID: 37934561 PMC: 10664013. DOI: 10.2196/42194.


Web-Based Cognitive Bias Modification Program for Young People With Social Anxiety and Hazardous Alcohol Use: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy Study.

Prior K, Salemink E, Piggott M, Manning V, Wiers R, Teachman B JMIR Form Res. 2023; 7:e46008.

PMID: 37878363 PMC: 10632924. DOI: 10.2196/46008.


Pilot testing of an adaptive, individualized inhibitory control training for binge drinking: first evidence on feasibility, acceptance, and efficacy.

Reichl D, Enewoldsen N, Muller A, Steins-Loeber S Psychol Res. 2022; 87(4):1267-1283.

PMID: 35994096 PMC: 9395788. DOI: 10.1007/s00426-022-01725-4.


Efficacy of approach bias modification as an add-on to smoking cessation treatment: study protocol for a randomized-controlled double-blind trial.

Wittekind C, Takano K, Sckopke P, Winkler M, Werner G, Ehring T Trials. 2022; 23(1):223.

PMID: 35313949 PMC: 8935694. DOI: 10.1186/s13063-022-06155-6.