Effect of Attention Training on Attention Bias Variability and PTSD Symptoms: Randomized Controlled Trials in Israeli and U.S. Combat Veterans

Abstract

Objective: Attention allocation to threat is perturbed in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with some studies indicating excess attention to threat and others indicating fluctuations between threat vigilance and threat avoidance. The authors tested the efficacy of two alternative computerized protocols, attention bias modification and attention control training, for rectifying threat attendance patterns and reducing PTSD symptoms.

Method: Two randomized controlled trials compared the efficacy of attention bias modification and attention control training for PTSD: one in Israel Defense Forces veterans and one in U.S. military veterans. Both utilized variants of the dot-probe task, with attention bias modification designed to shift attention away from threat and attention control training balancing attention allocation between threat and neutral stimuli. PTSD symptoms, attention bias, and attention bias variability were measured before and after treatment.

Results: Both studies indicated significant symptom improvement after treatment, favoring attention control training. Additionally, both studies found that attention control training, but not attention bias modification, significantly reduced attention bias variability. Finally, a combined analysis of the two samples suggested that reductions in attention bias variability partially mediated improvement in PTSD symptoms.

Conclusions: Attention control training may address aberrant fluctuations in attention allocation in PTSD, thereby reducing PTSD symptoms. Further study of treatment efficacy and its underlying neurocognitive mechanisms is warranted.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01368302 NCT01564667.

Figures

FIGURE 1.. PTSD Symptoms and Attention Bias Variabilitya in 52 Israeli Military Veterans Before and After Treatment With Attention Bias Modification or Attention Control Training (study 1)b

a Attention bias variability was assessed with the dot-probe task (40). See text for description of measures. b Not all participants provided posttreatment data.

FIGURE 2.. Clinician- and Self-Reported PTSDSymptoms, DepressionSymptoms, and Attention Bias Variabilitya in 46 U.S. Military Veterans Before and After Treatment With Attention Bias Modification or Attention Control Training (Study 2)b

a Attention bias variability was assessed with the dot-probe task (40). See text for description of measures. b Not all participants provided posttreatment data.

FIGURE 3.. Relation of Change in PTSD Symptoms to Change in Attention Bias Variabilitya in 52 Israeli and U.S. Military Veterans After Treatment With Attention Bias Modification or Attention Control Training

a Attention bias variability was assessed with the dot-probe task (40). See text for description of measures.