Effect of attention bias modification on depressive affect.

Cognitive interventions targeting depressive mood and major depressive disorder have emerged as a critical focus in mental health research. While studies on anxiety disorders, social phobia, eating disorders, and addiction have consistent findings, research on attentional bias modification in depression yields conflicting results depending on factors such as the severity of depression, the type and content of the modification, sample characteristics, and research design. Therefore, this study investigates the effects of attentional bias modification (ABM) on depressive mood and attentional bias levels using a randomized controlled design. In this study, a total of 45 volunteer participants, aged 18-40, were randomly assigned to experimental, placebo, and non-intervention groups. Pretest and posttest measurements of participants' depression levels were taken using the Hamilton Depression Scale and the Mood-State Adjective Pairs List, while attentional bias was assessed using the Dot Probe Task. The results revealed statistically significant differences in the levels of attentional bias and depressive mood in the experimental group (F(2, 42) = 6.73, p < 0.05, η = 0.24). A significant difference was found between the pre-test and post-test scores on the Mood-State Adjective Pairs List in the experimental group, but no such effect was observed in the control groups (F(2,42) = 6.12, p = 0.005, η = 0.23). In the Dot Probe Task results, the experimental group showed a quicker improvement in reaction time to the positive stimulus compared to the placebo group (F(2, 42) = 5.18, p = 0.01, η = 0.20). The findings of this study highlight the effectiveness of attentional bias modification in significantly reducing both attentional bias and depressive mood levels in the experimental group, underscoring its potential as a powerful intervention for alleviating depression.