Development of Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) Tools to Promote Adjustment during Reintegration following Deployment

Abstract

The overarching goal of the grant was to develop valid and reliable computerized tools to measure and modify anger-related cognitive biases and ultimately to examine their efficiency in reducing anger and adjustment difficulties among soldiers. The first aim of the research, addressed in the first reported study, was to measure the associations between anger measures and biases in anger-related attention and interpretation. This aim was addressed in the completion of a correlational study, and the publication of a scientific report describing its findings. The second aim was to explore the effect of cognitive interpretation training on anger related outcomes. This aim was addressed in a second study reported here, which found evidence for the efficacy of computerized interpretation training in reducing anger-related interpretations of ambiguous faces, mitigating self-reported state anger and reducing anger-related displaced retaliation behavior in an interpersonal game. No effect on self-reported trait anger was found. A scientific report describing these findings has been prepared and submitted for publication, and is currently under review. The third aim was to explore the effect of attention bias modification (ABM) training on anger related outcomes. This aim was addressed in the third study, which found no evidence for the efficacy of computerized attention training in reducing anger-related attention bias, or on self-reported anger measures and physiological reactivity related to an annoying manipulation. There was a training effect on anger-related displaced retaliation behavior in an interpersonal game, but since no training-related cognitive change was evidenced, it could not be concluded that this group difference is related to change in attention patterns. Conclusions and recommendations for future research following these findings are included in this summarizing report.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2017
Accession Number
AD1041771

Entities

People

  • Yair Bar-Haim

Organizations

  • Tel Aviv University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Cognition
  • Computer Graphics
  • Data Analysis
  • Deployment
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Electronic Mail
  • Human Behavior
  • Human Emotions
  • Information Processing
  • New York
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychology
  • Regression Analysis
  • Social Psychology
  • Training
  • Traumatic Stress Disorder

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Instructional Design and Training Evaluation.
  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.