INTRODUCTION

“Attentional bias modification” (ABM) is one of the major innovative developments in cognitive-behavioral interventions. Computer-based association exercises, designed according to a cognitive intervention logic, are used to correct the automatic negative distortions in information processing, responsible for generating anxiety. A series of randomized clinical trials have shown that this intervention is extremely efficient in a variety of anxiety disorders.

The International Coaching Institute aims to help clients presenting emotional problems, such as public speaking, by making this intervention accessible online.

This specific intervention is integrated into the general psychological intervention and can be applied: (a) at the Institute, (b) online, between classic/standard coaching sessions (c) exclusively online (seldom). The steps to be followed in order to access this intervention are:

(1) Contacting the Institute to make an appointment with a psychologist;
(2) Creating an account using the link below. After you created the account you will have to complete a series of screening questionaires. After the screening your account will be activeted personally by a psychologist, only then you will be able to access the intervention.
(3) Accessing the online ABM intervention, twice a week, for 4 weeks, as instructed by your psychologist. The session lasts approx 30 minutes - 15 minutes for the intervention and 15 minutes for completing the questionnaires. Both are required to finish the session.
(4) Keeping in touch with your psychologist throughout the intervention, by telephone or e-mail. Occasionally, face to face sessions will be scheduled.

SIGN-UP
Click here to sign-up for the intervention program.

Bellow you can find the main studies showing the efficacy of this innovative cognitive-behavioral intervention; the studies on anxiety disorders are marked with *

*Amir, N., Beard, C., Burns, M., & Bomyea, J. (2009). Attention modification program in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 118 (1), 28-33.
*Amir, N., Beard, C., Taylor, C. T., Klumpp, H., Elias, J., Burns, M., & Chen, X. (2009). Attention training in individuals with generalized social phobia: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77 (5), 961-973.
*Amir, N., Weber, G., Beard, C., Bomyea, J., & Taylor, C. T. (2008). The effect of a single-session attention modification program on a response to a public-speaking challenge in socially anxious individuals. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 117 (4), 860-868.
Baert, S., De Raedt, R., Schacht, R., & Koster, E. H. W. (2010). Attentional bias training in depression: Therapeutic effects depend on depression severity. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 41 (3), 265-274.
Bar-Haim, Y. (2010). Attentional bias modification (ABM): A novel treatment for anxiety disorders. Journal of Child psychology and Psychiatry, 51 (8), 859-870.
*Hayes, S., Hirsch, C., & Mathews, A. (2010). Facilitating a benign attentional bias reduces negative thought intrusions. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 119 (1), 235-248.
*Hazen, R. A., Vasey, M. W., & Schmidt, N. B. (2009). Attentional retraining: a radomized clinical trial for pathological worry. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 43 (6), 627-633.
*Klumpp, H., & Amir, N. (2010). Preliminary study of attention training to threat and neutral faces on anxious reactivity to a social stresor in social anxiety. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 34, 263-271.
*Koster, E. H. W., Baert, S., Bockstaele, M., & De Raedt, R. (2010). Attentional retraining procedures: manipulating early or late components of attentional bias? Emotion, 10 (2), 230-236.
*Krebs, G., Hirsch, C. R., & Mathews, A. (2010). The effect of attention modification with explicit vs. minimal instructions on worry. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 48 (3), 251-256.
*Li, S., Tan, J., Qian, M., & Liu, X. (2008). Continual training of attentional bias in social anxiety. Behavior Research and Therapy, 46, 905-912.
*MacLeod, C., Rutherford, E., Campbell, L., Ebsworthy, B., & Holker, L. (2002). Selective attention and emotional vulnerability: assessing the causal basis of their association through the experimental manipulation of attentional bias. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 111 (1), 107-123.
*Najmi, S., & Amir, A. (2010). The effect of attention training on a behavioral test of contamination fears in individuals with subclinical obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 119 (1), 136-142.
*Reese, H. E., McNally, R. J., Najmi, S., & Amir, N. (2010). Attention training for reducing fear in spider-fearful individuals. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, in press.
*Schmidt, N. B., Richey, A. J., Buckner, J. D., & Timpano, K. R. (2009). Attention training for generalized social anxiety disorder. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 118 (1), 5-14.
Schoenmakers, T. M., de Bruin, M., Lux, I. F. M., Goertz, A. G., van Kerkhof, D. H. A. T., & Wiers, R. W. (2010). Clinical effectiveness of attentional bias modification training in abstinent alcoholic patients. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 109 (1-3), 30-36.
*See, J., MacLeod, C., & Briddle, R. (2009). The reduction of anxiety vulnerability through the modification of attentional bias: a real-world study using a home-based cognitive bias modification procedure. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 118 (1), 65-75.