Interpretation bias and emotional face detection in social anxiety

Abstract

Prior research has suggested that cognitive bias modification for interpretation bias (CBM-I) was effective in modifying interpretation bias and reducing the symptomatology of social anxiety. The current study investigated the effectiveness of a locally adapted CBM-I on interpretation bias and symptoms reduction in self-reported social anxiety, and the effect of changes in interpretation bias on the detection of emotional faces. 48 participants were randomly allocated to either the experimental or control group. CBM-I was found to have significantly reduced interpretation bias, and the effect was unlikely to be contaminated by demand effect. However, no transfer effect of CBM-I was found for symptoms of social anxiety. Changes in interpretation bias also did not transfer to sensitivity and response criterion related to emotional face detection. Further study directions are outlined in relation to improving the efficacy and transfer effect of CBM-I.