Statistical Learning as a Predictor of Attention Bias Modification Outcome

Statistical Learning as a Predictor of Attention Bias Modification Outcome: a Preliminary Study Among Socially Anxious Patients

This study examines whether the ability to extract statistical properties from the environment among treatment-seeking patients with social anxiety disorder can predict therapeutic response to attention bias modification (ABM), namely, reduction in symptoms of social anxiety following ABM therapy.

All participants received 6 sessions of ABM therapy away from threat. At baseline participants also completed a gold standard statistical learning task aimed to assess participants' capacity for the extraction of statistical regularity from the environment. The aim of the study is to determine whether the basic ability to extract rules from the environment at baseline could predict clinical improvement of social anxiety symptoms.

Inclusion Criteria:

• a signed consent form
• a primary diagnosis of social anxiety disorder
• an age of 18-65

Exclusion Criteria:

• any history or present diagnosis of psychosis
• high risk for harm to self or others
• concurrent posttraumatic stress disorder, eating disorder, or bipolar disorder
• a diagnosis of a neurological disorder (i.e., epilepsy, brain injury)
• drug or alcohol misuse
• a pharmacological treatment that is not stabilized in the past 3 months
• any concurrent psychotherapy