Internet-Delivered Interpretation Training Reduces Worry and Anxiety in Individuals With Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Experiment



Hirsch, Colette R, Krahe, Charlotte ORCID: 0000-0002-0620-1263, Whyte, Jessica, Krzyzanowski, Hannah, Meeten, Frances, Norton, Sam and Mathews, Andrew
(2021) Internet-Delivered Interpretation Training Reduces Worry and Anxiety in Individuals With Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Experiment. JOURNAL OF CONSULTING AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, 89 (7). pp. 575-589.

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Abstract

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a debilitating condition, characterized by negative interpretations about ambiguous situations. This study tested whether entirely internet-delivered interpretation training [cognitive bias modification (CBM)] versus control promotes positive interpretations and reduces worry and anxiety in individuals with GAD, with or without depression. <b><i>Method:</i></b> A two-arm (CBM; control) parallel-group randomized controlled experiment. Assessments were preintervention (T0), postintervention (T1), 1-month (T2) postintervention, and 3-month (T3) postintervention. Participants with GAD (with or without comorbid depression) were randomly allocated to either CBM (<i>n</i> = 115) or control (<i>n</i> = 115). Participants, but not researchers, were blind to allocated condition. Participants completed up to 10 online CBM or control sessions across 1 month. Interpretation bias [coprimary outcomes: scrambled sentence test (SST), recognition test (RT)], and number of negative thought intrusions during a breathing focus task were measured at T0 and T1. Self-reported levels of worry [Penn State Worry Questionnaire-trait (PSWQ trait); Penn State Worry Questionnaire-past week (PSWQ weekly)], anxiety [Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7)], depression [Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)], rumination [Ruminative Response Scale (RRS)], and repetitive negative thinking [RNT; Repetitive Thinking Questionnaire-trait (RTQ-trait)] were assessed at T0-T3. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The per-protocol analyses included <i>N</i> = 186 participants (CBM <i>n</i> = 94; control <i>n</i> = 92). As predicted, we found moderate-to-large training effects on the primary outcome of interpretation bias at T1. Secondary outcomes of negative thought intrusions at T1 and self-reported symptoms at T2 were all significantly lower in the CBM versus control condition. All but one effect (trait RNT) were sustained at T3. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> In this randomized controlled study, we found that fully online interpretation training ameliorated core features of GAD in individuals with or without comorbid depression up to 3 months posttraining. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), cognitive bias modification (CBM), interpretation bias, worry, depression
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 27 Aug 2021 07:44
Last Modified: 18 Jan 2023 21:32
DOI: 10.1037/ccp0000660
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3134912