The effects of a visual search attentional bias modification paradigm on attentional bias in dysphoric individuals Anne-Wil Kruijt a, * , Peter Putman a , Willem Van der Does a, b a Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands b Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands article info Article history: Received 20 July 2012 Received in revised form 2 November 2012 Accepted 20 November 2012 Keywords: Attention bias modification Dysphoria Depression Dot probe Visual search abstract Background and Objectives: Attentional Bias Modification (ABM) may constitute a new type of treatment for affective disorders. ABM refers to computerized training programs that have been developed based on laboratory findings in experimental psychology. Meta-analyses have reported moderate effect sizes in anxiety disorders. Two small studies have also claimed an effect in dysphoria. Furthermore, a series of studies in individuals with low self-esteem has shown that they benefit from a single session of an ABM variant based on a visual search task. The current study tested the working mechanism of visual search ABM in dysphoria. Methods: Forty dysphoric individuals engaged in a single session of ABM training or control training. Attentional bias for positive and negative facial expressions was assessed pre- and post training. Positive and negative mood states were assessed throughout the procedure. Results: Attentional training had no effect on attentional bias. Positive and negative mood states were not differentially affected by training condition. Limitations: Small treatment effects may have gone undetected and there are some methodological differences with prior research. Conclusion: We found no evidence that engaging in a single session of a visual search ABM modifies attentional biases for happy, sad or disgusted facial expressions. Ó 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Despite the availability of psychotherapies and medications for affective disorders, the search for new treatments continues. Existing treatments have limited efficacy, unwanted side effects, (Cuijpers, van Straten, Bohlmeijer, Hollon, & Andersson, 2010; Turner, Matthews, Linardatos, Tell, & Rosenthal, 2008) or are not easily available (Shapiro, Cavanagh, & Lomas, 2003). It is therefore not surprising that there is much interest in the development of computerized programs for the treatment of affective disorders. These could be relatively cheap, easily available, and more tolerable (Bar-Haim, 2010; Browning, Holmes, & Harmer, 2010). Computerized treatments in development include the so-called Attentional Bias Modification (ABM) paradigms. These training programs aim to modify individuals’ automatic tendencies to direct attention towards negative visual information. Cognitive theories predict that such automatic tendencies, called attentional bias, play a role in the aetiology and maintenance of mood and anxiety disorders (Roiser, Elliott, & Sahakian, 2012; Yiend, 2010). Atten- tional bias is most often assessed with the so-called dot probe task. The ABM version of the dot probe task is designed to reduce attentional bias to negative information (MacLeod, Rutherford, Campbell, Ebsworthy, & Holker, 2002), which is expected to lead to a reduction in symptoms (Bar-Haim, 2010; Browning et al., 2010; MacLeod & Mathews, 2012). Many studies have now tested ABM for anxiety and anxiety disorders and meta-analyses found small to moderate effect sizes compared with control treatment (Hakamata et al., 2010; Hallion & Ruscio, 2011). A few small studies have tested ABM for depression. In the first of these, 34 dysphoric students engaged in four sessions of a dot probe ABM treatment (Wells & Beevers, 2010). No effects were observed immediately following training, but depressive symp- toms were reduced in the ABM group at a 2-week follow-up assessment. This is consistent with the model that ABM changes information processing, which over time translates into an effect on mood. Attrition over the course of this study was quite high, however. The follow-up assessment was based on only 18 * Corresponding author. Tel.: þ31 71 527 6677; fax: þ31 71 527 3619. E-mail addresses: kruijtj@fsw.leidenuniv.nl (A.-W. Kruijt), pputman@ fsw.leidenuniv.nl (P. Putman), vanderdoes@fsw.leidenuniv.nl (W. Van der Does). Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jbtep 0005-7916/$ e see front matter Ó 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2012.11.003 J. Behav. Ther. & Exp. Psychiat. 44 (2013) 248e254