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Elsevier, Internet Interventions, 3(2), p. 227-234, 2015

DOI: 10.1016/j.invent.2015.03.006

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Cognitive Bias Measurement and Social Anxiety Disorder: Correlating Self-Report Data and Attentional Bias.

Journal article published in 2015 by Alexander Miloff ORCID, Andreas Savva ORCID, Per Carlbring ORCID
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) and attentional bias are theoretically connected in cognitive behavioural therapeutic models. In fact, there is an emerging field focusing on modifying attentional bias as a stand-alone treatment. However, it is unclear to what degree these attentional biases are present before commencing treatment. The purpose of this study was to measure pre-treatment attentional bias in 153 participants diagnosed with SAD using a web-based version of the dot-probe paradigm. Results showed no significant correlation for attentional bias (towards or away from negative words or faces) and the self-rated version of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS-SR). However, two positive correlations were found for the secondary measures Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). These indicated that those with elevated levels of anxiety and depression had a higher bias towards negative faces in Neutral-Negative and Positive–negative valence combinations, respectively. The unreliability of the dot-probe paradigm and home-based internet delivery are discussed to explain the lack of correlations between LSAS-SR and attentional bias. Changes to the dot-probe task are suggested that could improve reliability.