Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
https://trends.org.br/article/doi/10.1590/2237-6089-2015-0011
Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Review Article

Attentional bias modification based on visual probe task: methodological issues, results and clinical relevance

Modificação de viés atencional com base em tarefa de atenção visual: questões metodológicas, resultados e relevância clínica

Fernanda Machado Lopes; Keitiline R. Viacava; Lisiane Bizarro

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Abstract

Introduction: Attentional bias, the tendency that a person has to drive or maintain attention to a specific class of stimuli, may play an important role in the etiology and persistence of mental disorders. Attentional bias modification has been studied as a form of additional treatment related to automatic processing. Objectives: This systematic literature review compared and discussed methods, evidence of success and potential clinical applications of studies about attentional bias modification (ABM) using a visual probe task. Methods: The Web of Knowledge, PubMed and PsycInfo were searched using the keywords attentional bias modification, attentional bias manipulation and attentional bias training. We selected empirical studies about ABM training using a visual probe task written in English and published between 2002 and 2014. Results: Fifty-seven studies met inclusion criteria. Most (78%) succeeded in training attention in the predicted direction, and in 71% results were generalized to other measures correlated with the symptoms. Conclusions: ABM has potential clinical utility, but to standardize methods and maximize applicability, future studies should include clinical samples and be based on findings of studies about its effectiveness.

Keywords

Behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, outcome studies, experimental psychology

Resumo

Introdução: O viés atencional, definido como a tendência a direcionar ou manter a atenção focada em uma classe específica de estímulos, pode ter um papel importante na etiologia e manutenção dos transtornos mentais. A modificação do viés atencional tem sido estudada como forma adicional de tratamento dirigida ao processamento automático. Objetivos: Esta revisão sistemática da literatura compara e discute questões metodológicas, evidências de resultados positivos e potenciais aplicações clínicas dos estudos sobre a modificação do viés atencional (MVA) baseados em uma tarefa de atenção visual. Métodos: As bases de dados Web of Knowledge, PubMed e PsycInfo foram pesquisadas usando os descritores attentional bias modification, attentional bias manipulation e attentional bias training. Foram selecionados estudos empíricos sobre treinamento para MVA baseados em tarefa de atenção visual escritos em inglês e publicados entre 2002 e 2014. Resultados: Cinquenta e sete estudos atenderam aos critérios de inclusão. A maioria (78%) obteve sucesso no treinamento da atenção na direção prevista, e 71% tiveram seus resultados generalizados a outras medidas correlacionadas com os sintomas. Conclusões: A MVA tem utilidade clínica potencial, mas, para atingir a padronização de métodos e a maximização de sua aplicabilidade, estudos futuros deverão incluir amostras clínicas e ser baseados nos resultados dos estudos sobre sua eficácia.

Palavras-chave

Terapia comportamental, terapia cognitiva, resultados de estudos, psicologia experimental

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