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Rupp LH, Keinert M, Böhme S, Schindler-Gmelch L, Eskofier B, Schuller B, Berking M. Sadness-Based Approach-Avoidance Modification Training for Subjective Stress in Adults: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Form Res 2023; 7:e50324. [PMID: 38032725 PMCID: PMC10722377 DOI: 10.2196/50324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A key vulnerability factor in mental health problems is chronic stress. There is a need for easy-to-disseminate and effective interventions to advance the prevention of stress-related illnesses. App-based stress management trainings can fulfill this need. As subjectively experienced stress may be influenced by dysfunctional beliefs, modifying their evaluations might reduce subjective stress. Approach-avoidance modification trainings (AAMT) can be used to modify stimulus evaluations and are promising candidates for a mobile stress intervention. As the standard training reactions of the AAMT (swiping and joystick motion) have little valence, emotions could be incorporated as approach and avoidance reactions to enhance the effectiveness of AAMTs. OBJECTIVE We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a mobile emotion-enhanced AAMT that engages users to display sadness to move stress-enhancing beliefs away and display positive emotions to move stress-reducing beliefs toward themselves (emotion-based AAMT using sadness and positive emotions [eAAMT-SP]). We explored the clinical efficacy of this novel intervention. METHODS We allocated 30 adult individuals with elevated stress randomly to 1 of 3 conditions (eAAMT-SP, a swipe control condition, and an inactive control condition). We evaluated the feasibility of the intervention (technical problems, adherence, usability, and acceptability). To explore the clinical efficacy of the intervention, we compared pretest-posttest differences in perceived stress (primary clinical outcome) and 3 secondary clinical outcomes (agreement with and perceived helpfulness of dysfunctional beliefs, emotion regulation, and depressive symptoms) among the conditions. RESULTS The predetermined benchmarks of 50% for intervention completion and 75% for feasibility of the study design (completion of the study design) were met, whereas the cutoff for technical feasibility of the study design (95% of trials without technical errors) was not met. Effect sizes for usability and acceptability were in favor of the eAAMT-SP condition (compared with the swipe control condition; intelligibility of the instructions: g=-0.86, distancing from dysfunctional beliefs: g=0.22, and approaching functional beliefs: g=0.55). Regarding clinical efficacy, the pretest-posttest effect sizes for changes in perceived stress were g=0.80 for the comparison between the eAAMT-SP and inactive control conditions and g=0.76 for the comparison between the eAAMT-SP and swipe control conditions. Effect sizes for the secondary clinical outcomes indicated greater pretest-posttest changes in the eAAMT-SP condition than in the inactive control condition and comparable changes in the swipe control condition. CONCLUSIONS The findings regarding the feasibility of the intervention were satisfactory except for the technical feasibility of the intervention, which should be improved. The effect sizes for the clinical outcomes provide preliminary evidence for the therapeutic potential of the intervention. The findings suggest that extending the AAMT paradigm through the use of emotions may increase its efficacy. Future research should evaluate the eAAMT-SP in sufficiently powered randomized controlled trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION German Clinical Trials Registry DRKS00023007; https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00023007.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Helene Rupp
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Marie Keinert
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stephanie Böhme
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Chemnitz, Chemnitz, Germany
| | - Lena Schindler-Gmelch
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bjoern Eskofier
- Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab, Department Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Björn Schuller
- Chair of Embedded Intelligence for Health Care and Wellbeing, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
- Group on Language, Audio, & Music, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthias Berking
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Grèzes J, Risch N, Courtet P, Olié E, Mennella R. Depression and approach-avoidance decisions to emotional displays: The role of anhedonia. Behav Res Ther 2023; 164:104306. [PMID: 37043847 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2023.104306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Depression is linked to dysfunctional appetitive and aversive motivational systems and effort-based decision-making, yet whether such deficits extend to social decisions remains unclear. Participants (23 non-depressed, 48 depressed - 24 with a past history of suicide attempt) completed a social decision-making task consisting in freely choosing whether to approach or avoid individuals displaying happy or angry expressions. Occasionally, participants had to make a further effort (change button press) to obtain the desired outcome. All participants preferentially avoided anger on their first choice. Yet, depressed patients less often chose to approach happy individuals, as a function of anhedonia severity. Depressed patients were also less inclined than controls to change their response when the anticipated outcome of their first choice was undesirable (approach angry and avoid happy). Again, such effect correlated with anhedonia severity. Our results support that both altered valuation and willingness to exert effort impact approach-avoidance decisions in social contexts in depression. On this basis, we propose a new integrating framework for reconciling different hypotheses on the effect of depression and anhedonia on motivational responses to emotional stimuli.
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Weber I, Zorowitz S, Niv Y, Bennett D. The effects of induced positive and negative affect on Pavlovian-instrumental interactions. Cogn Emot 2022; 36:1343-1360. [PMID: 35929878 PMCID: PMC9852069 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2022.2109600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Across species, animals have an intrinsic drive to approach appetitive stimuli and to withdraw from aversive stimuli. In affective science, influential theories of emotion link positive affect with strengthened behavioural approach and negative affect with avoidance. Based on these theories, we predicted that individuals' positive and negative affect levels should particularly influence their behaviour when innate Pavlovian approach/avoidance tendencies conflict with learned instrumental behaviours. Here, across two experiments - exploratory Experiment 1 (N = 91) and a preregistered confirmatory Experiment 2 (N = 335) - we assessed how induced positive and negative affect influenced Pavlovian-instrumental interactions in a reward/punishment Go/No-Go task. Contrary to our hypotheses, we found no evidence for a main effect of positive/negative affect on either approach/avoidance behaviour or Pavlovian-instrumental interactions. However, we did find evidence that the effects of induced affect on behaviour were moderated by individual differences in self-reported behavioural inhibition and gender. Exploratory computational modelling analyses explained these demographic moderating effects as arising from positive correlations between demographic factors and individual differences in the strength of Pavlovian-instrumental interactions. These findings serve to sharpen our understanding of the effects of positive and negative affect on instrumental behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isla Weber
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, USA
| | - Sam Zorowitz
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, USA
| | - Yael Niv
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, USA
- Department of Psychology, Princeton University, Princeton, USA
| | - Daniel Bennett
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
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Baranowski AM, Noll AK, Golder S, Markert C, Stark R. Effects of Depression on Processing and Evaluation of Sexual Stimuli in Women. J Sex Med 2022; 19:441-451. [PMID: 35000887 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2021.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sexual dysfunctions are commonly associated with depression by which women are particularly affected. AIM In the following study, we looked at which stage-early attention-related processes or later evaluation-related processes-of the processing of sexual stimuli deviations occur in depressed individuals. METHODS We examined 96 women who either suffered from a major depressive disorder, or had recovered from it, and a healthy control group. The early level of attention processes was represented by reaction time tasks (dot probe, line orientation, picture categorization). In addition, implicit approach and avoidance behavior was tested by the Approach-Avoidance Task. Later evaluation of the visual material was determined with the help of a questionnaire for recording automatic negative thoughts regarding sexuality. OUTCOMES Reaction times and explicit ratings as well as the Becks Depression Inventory (BDI II), the Trait Sexual Motivation Questionnaire (TSMQ), the Sexual Modes Questionnaire (SMQ) and a screening for sexual dysfunction were used. RESULTS Depressed women did not differ significantly from healthy women in their attention processes and approach-avoidance behavior. However, there were clear differences in explicit assessment and automatic thoughts about sexual stimuli. Women who had recovered from depression lay between the 2 groups. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS The results indicated that the therapy of sexual dysfunction in depressed patients should focus more on automatic thoughts than on attention processes. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS This study is the first to experimentally research the attention processes of depression towards sexual stimuli. However, participants were only tested on one occasion so that change of attention processes and evaluation of sexual stimuli over the course of a depression could not be assessed. CONCLUSION Our novel findings demonstrate the role of attention processes in sexual dysfunctions of depressed women and suggest potential mechanisms that may underlie the observed correlation between depression and sexual dysfunction. Baranowski AM, Noll A-K, Golder S, et al. Effects of Depression on Processing and Evaluation of Sexual Stimuli in Women. J Sex Med 2022;19:441-451.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas M Baranowski
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Psychology and Sport Science, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany; Center for Mind, Brain and Behaviour, Universities of Marburg and Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Ann-Kathrin Noll
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Psychology and Sport Science, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Sarah Golder
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Psychology and Sport Science, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Charlotte Markert
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Psychology and Sport Science, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany; Center for Mind, Brain and Behaviour, Universities of Marburg and Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Rudolf Stark
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Psychology and Sport Science, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany; Center for Mind, Brain and Behaviour, Universities of Marburg and Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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Woody ML, Ladouceur CD, Borrero E, Wang YS, Silk JS. Avoidance Bias to Angry Faces Predicts the Development of Depressive Symptoms among Adolescent Girls. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2022; 50:1657-1669. [PMID: 35870037 PMCID: PMC9308032 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-022-00948-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Interpersonal-motivational models posit that heightened avoidance of aversive social stimuli and diminished approach of appetitive social stimuli increases social withdrawal and reduces positive social interactions, thereby increasing risk for future social anxiety and depression. The current study examined if approach-avoidance biases toward angry and happy faces, measured during the Approach Avoidance Task (AAT), would be associated with the development of adolescent depressive and social anxiety symptoms. At baseline, participants included 129 never-depressed adolescent girls (ages 11-13), two-thirds of whom were at high-risk for internalizing problems due to shy/fearful temperament. Girls reported their depressive and social anxiety symptoms every 6 months for 24 months and completed the AAT at baseline and 24-mo follow-up. Heightened avoidance bias toward angry faces at baseline predicted increases in depressive symptoms across the follow-up, even after accounting for temperament and pubertal status. In contrast, girls with greater depression and social anxiety symptoms at 24-mo follow-up exhibited less avoidance bias for angry faces at the same time point. Findings suggest that avoidance behaviors (i.e., avoiding people or settings associated with angry faces, which are often perceived as hostile, critical, or rejecting) may be a risk factor for depression, above and beyond risk imparted by temperament or advances in puberty. However, with increasing internalizing symptoms, it may become more difficult for adolescents to maintain avoidance for aversive social stimuli, and without the introduction of more adaptive emotion regulation strategies, these biases may continue to increase and maintain risk for internalizing problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary L Woody
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA.
| | - Cecile D Ladouceur
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Elisa Borrero
- Department of Psychology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
| | - Yuqi S Wang
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Jennifer S Silk
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
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Pasquereau B, Drui G, Saga Y, Richard A, Millot M, Météreau E, Sgambato V, Tobler PN, Tremblay L. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment retunes emotional valence in primate ventral striatum. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:2073-2082. [PMID: 33692476 PMCID: PMC8505611 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-00991-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are widely used to treat psychiatric disorders with affective biases such as depression and anxiety. How SSRIs exert a beneficial action on emotions associated with life events is still unknown. Here we ask whether and how the effectiveness of the SSRI fluoxetine is underpinned by neural mechanisms in the ventral striatum. To address these issues, we studied the spiking activity of neurons in the ventral striatum of monkeys during an approach-avoidance task in which the valence assigned to sensory stimuli was manipulated. Neural responses to positive and negative events were measured before and during a 4-week treatment with fluoxetine. We conducted PET scans to confirm that fluoxetine binds within the ventral striatum at a therapeutic dose. In our monkeys, fluoxetine facilitated approach of rewards and avoidance of punishments. These beneficial effects were associated with changes in tonic and phasic activities of striatal neurons. Fluoxetine increased the spontaneous firing rate of striatal neurons and amplified the number of cells responding to rewards versus punishments, reflecting a drug-induced positive shift in the processing of emotionally valenced information. These findings reveal how SSRI treatment affects ventral striatum neurons encoding positive and negative valence and striatal signaling of emotional information. In addition to a key role in appetitive processing, our results shed light on the involvement of the ventral striatum in aversive processing. Together, the ventral striatum appears to play a central role in the action of SSRIs on emotion processing biases commonly observed in psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Pasquereau
- Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, UMR 5229, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Bron Cedex, France. .,Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Guillaume Drui
- grid.465537.6Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, UMR 5229, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Bron Cedex, France ,grid.7849.20000 0001 2150 7757Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Yosuke Saga
- grid.465537.6Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, UMR 5229, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Bron Cedex, France ,grid.7849.20000 0001 2150 7757Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Augustin Richard
- grid.465537.6Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, UMR 5229, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Bron Cedex, France ,grid.7849.20000 0001 2150 7757Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Mathilde Millot
- grid.465537.6Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, UMR 5229, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Bron Cedex, France ,grid.7849.20000 0001 2150 7757Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Elise Météreau
- grid.465537.6Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, UMR 5229, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Bron Cedex, France ,grid.7849.20000 0001 2150 7757Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Véronique Sgambato
- grid.465537.6Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, UMR 5229, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Bron Cedex, France ,grid.7849.20000 0001 2150 7757Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Philippe N. Tobler
- grid.7400.30000 0004 1937 0650Laboratory for Social and Neural Systems Research, Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Léon Tremblay
- grid.465537.6Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, UMR 5229, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Bron Cedex, France ,grid.7849.20000 0001 2150 7757Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
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7
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Krehbiel J, Halbeisen G, Kühn S, Erim Y, Paslakis G. Too hot to handle: Mood states moderate implicit approach vs. avoidance tendencies toward food cues in patients with obesity and active binge eating disorder. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 143:302-308. [PMID: 34530341 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.09.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Patients with binge eating disorder (BED) display recurring episodes of eating large amounts of food in a short period of time, especially during negative mood states. However, the psychological processes linking negative mood to binge eating behavior have not been sufficiently explored. This study investigated the effects of experimentally inducing a negative (sad) mood state upon reaction times in a computerized Approach-Avoidance-Task (AAT) using images of foods and compared to a neutral control procedure in which negative mood was not induced. Differences in reaction times between "pulling" and "pushing away" food cues in the AAT were considered surrogates for fast, automatic (i.e., implicit) preferences ("bias") for either the approach or avoidance of foods. Obese patients with BED (n = 40), weight-matched (obese) individuals (n = 40), and norm-weight controls (n = 29) were asked to approach ("pull") or avoid ("push") images of high- and low-calorie foods following the induction of a negative mood state vs. the neutral control procedure. Sample size was within the common range of previous investigations of the kind. Similar to previous findings, obese patients with BED exhibited an avoidance bias (i.e., faster reaction times in "pushing" compared to "pulling") during the neutral control condition. However, a contrast analysis revealed that negative mood was associated with decreased avoidance bias in obese patients with BED, but not in obese and norm-weight controls. Mood status exerted no effect on BED patients' self-reported (i.e., explicit) ratings of the urge to consume foods. These findings may help to advance current understanding of how negative (sad) mood states may affect binge eating behaviors. Implications of these findings for developing novel treatment approaches are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Krehbiel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Georg Halbeisen
- University Clinic of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ruhr-University Bochum, Campus East-Westphalia, Lübbecke, Germany
| | - Simone Kühn
- Lise Meiter Group for Environmental Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany; University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf, Clinic and Policlinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yesim Erim
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Georgios Paslakis
- University Clinic of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ruhr-University Bochum, Campus East-Westphalia, Lübbecke, Germany.
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Bomyea J, Choi SH, Sweet A, Stein M, Paulus M, Taylor C. Neural Changes in Reward Processing Following Approach Avoidance Training for Depression. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2021; 17:nsab107. [PMID: 34643736 PMCID: PMC8881638 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsab107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered approach motivation is hypothesized to be critical for the maintenance of depression. Computer-administered approach-avoidance training programs to increase approach action tendencies toward positive stimuli produce beneficial outcomes. However, there have been few studies examining neural changes following approach-avoidance training. Participants with Major Depressive Disorder were randomized to an Approach Avoidance Training (AAT) manipulation intended to increase approach tendencies for positive social cues (n=13) or a control procedure (n=15). We examined changes in neural activation (primary outcome) and connectivity patterns using Group Iterative Multiple Model Estimation during a social reward anticipation task (exploratory). A laboratory-based social affiliation task was also administered following the manipulation to measure affect during anticipation of real-world social activity. Individuals in the AAT group demonstrated increased activation in reward processing regions during social reward anticipation relative to the control group from pre to post-training. Following training, connectivity patterns across reward regions were observed in the full sample and connectivity between the medial PFC and caudate was associated with anticipatory positive affect before the social interaction; preliminary evidence of differential connectivity patterns between the two groups also emerged. Results support models whereby modifying approach-oriented behavioral tendencies with computerized training leads to alterations in reward circuitry. (NCT02330744).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Bomyea
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92037, USA
| | - Soo-Hee Choi
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Institute of Human Behavioral Medicine, SNU-MRC, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Alison Sweet
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92037, USA
| | - Murray Stein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92037, USA
- School of Public Health, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
- Psychiatry Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Martin Paulus
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK 74136, USA
| | - Charles Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92037, USA
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Harlé KM, Simmons AN, Bomyea J, Spadoni AD, Taylor CT. Higher affective congruency in the approach-avoidance task is associated with insular deactivation to dynamic facial expressions. Neuropsychologia 2020; 151:107734. [PMID: 33358774 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Individuals exhibit a natural bias to approach positive social cues (e.g., smiling face) and to avoid negative ones, which may be altered in psychiatric conditions. Computerized approach/avoidance training to promote affectively congruent behavior has proven useful in modulating such biases. Here, we investigate how exposure to a higher rate of congruency impacts neural processing of social-affective cues. While undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), twenty-four individuals completed two versions of the approach-avoidance task (AAT), in which they had to approach or avoid dynamic facial expressions of either happiness or disgust. In the high congruency condition, congruent responses (i.e. approaching happy faces, avoiding disgusted faces) were more frequent. The balanced condition had equal amounts of congruent and incongruent responses. Processing of congruent approach-avoidance actions towards social cues was associated with lower recruitment of the right anterior insula in the congruency-intensive relative to the balanced condition. Differential activation between the high congruency and balanced condition in the right hippocampus was negatively related to individuals' trait avoidance tendency. These findings are consistent with reduced affective neural processing of social cues when being exposed to congruent AAT contexts. These neural foci could be important targets when assessing the effectiveness of affective congruency training protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katia M Harlé
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Alan N Simmons
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jessica Bomyea
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Andrea D Spadoni
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Charles T Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Fricke K, Vogel S. How interindividual differences shape approach-avoidance behavior: Relating self-report and diagnostic measures of interindividual differences to behavioral measurements of approach and avoidance. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 111:30-56. [PMID: 31954150 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Responding to stimuli in ambiguous environments is partially governed by approach-avoidance tendencies. Imbalances in these approach-avoidance behaviors are implicated in many mental disorders including anxiety disorders, phobias and substance use disorders. While factors biasing human behavior in approach-avoidance conflicts have been researched in numerous experiments, a much-needed comprehensive overview integrating those findings is missing. Here, we systematically searched the existing literature on individual differences in task-based approach-avoidance behavior and aggregated the current evidence for the effect of self-reported approach/avoidance traits, anxiety and anxiety disorders, specific phobias, depression, aggression, anger and psychopathy, substance use and related disorders, eating disorders and habits, trauma, acute stress and, finally, hormone levels (mainly testosterone, oxytocin). We highlight consistent findings, underrepresented research areas and unexpected results, and detail the amount of controversy between studies. We discuss potential reasons for ambiguous results in some research areas, offer practical advice for future studies and highlight potential variables such as task-related researcher decisions that may influence how interindividual differences and disorders drive automatic approach-avoidance biases in behavioral experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Fricke
- Department of Psychology, Medical School Hamburg, Am Kaiserkai 1, 20457, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Susanne Vogel
- Department of Psychology, Medical School Hamburg, Am Kaiserkai 1, 20457, Hamburg, Germany
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Loijen A, Vrijsen JN, Egger JI, Becker ES, Rinck M. Biased approach-avoidance tendencies in psychopathology: A systematic review of their assessment and modification. Clin Psychol Rev 2020; 77:101825. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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12
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Case JAC, Olino TM. Approach and avoidance patterns in reward learning across domains: An initial examination of the Social Iowa Gambling Task. Behav Res Ther 2020; 125:103547. [PMID: 31954996 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2019.103547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2019] [Revised: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The current study examines learning patterns in response to both monetary and social incentives through both approach and avoidance behaviors using modified versions of the Iowa Gambling Task. Specifically, we investigated learning in response to both positive and negative feedback in a sample of 191 undergraduate students. The social task was a novel paradigm, and social feedback were images of faces displaying positive and negative emotions. We examined internal validity of the tasks through modeling changes in approach and avoidance. We also explored associations between approach and avoidance learning and individual differences in anxiety and social anxiety, depression and well-being, general anhedonia and social closeness, and fun-seeking, using multilevel models (MLMs). Results showed that both the monetary and social tasks demonstrated learning as shown by decreases in plays on disadvantageous decks across the task. Additionally, we found that overall task performance on the monetary task was associated with fun-seeking and overall task performance on the social task was associated with fun-seeking and depressive symptoms. Initial findings suggest promise for the novel task in the examination of social avoidance learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia A C Case
- Temple University, Department of Psychology, 1701 North 13th Street, 6th Floor Weiss Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 191221, USA.
| | - Thomas M Olino
- Temple University, Department of Psychology, 1701 North 13th Street, 6th Floor Weiss Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 191221, USA
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13
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Forscher PS, Lai CK, Axt JR, Ebersole CR, Herman M, Devine PG, Nosek BA. A meta-analysis of procedures to change implicit measures. J Pers Soc Psychol 2019; 117:522-559. [PMID: 31192631 PMCID: PMC6687518 DOI: 10.1037/pspa0000160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 176] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Using a novel technique known as network meta-analysis, we synthesized evidence from 492 studies (87,418 participants) to investigate the effectiveness of procedures in changing implicit measures, which we define as response biases on implicit tasks. We also evaluated these procedures' effects on explicit and behavioral measures. We found that implicit measures can be changed, but effects are often relatively weak (|ds| < .30). Most studies focused on producing short-term changes with brief, single-session manipulations. Procedures that associate sets of concepts, invoke goals or motivations, or tax mental resources changed implicit measures the most, whereas procedures that induced threat, affirmation, or specific moods/emotions changed implicit measures the least. Bias tests suggested that implicit effects could be inflated relative to their true population values. Procedures changed explicit measures less consistently and to a smaller degree than implicit measures and generally produced trivial changes in behavior. Finally, changes in implicit measures did not mediate changes in explicit measures or behavior. Our findings suggest that changes in implicit measures are possible, but those changes do not necessarily translate into changes in explicit measures or behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Calvin K. Lai
- Dept. of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Jordan R. Axt
- Center for Advanced Hindsight, Duke University, Washington University in St. Louis
| | | | | | | | - Brian A. Nosek
- Dept. of Psychology, University of Virginia
- Center for Open Science, Charlottesville, VA
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14
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Swinkels LMJ, Gramser H, Becker ES, Rinck M. Self-Approach Tendencies: Relations With Explicit and Implicit Self-Evaluations. Front Psychol 2019; 10:309. [PMID: 30846951 PMCID: PMC6394373 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We used a newly developed Self-Approach-Avoidance Task (Self-AAT) to measure self-approach tendencies in female students. In this task, participants use a joystick to pull portraits of themselves and of others closer or to push them away. In the three studies, we found a significant self-approach tendency: participants were faster to pull mirror-imaged portraits of themselves closer than to push them away. This approach tendency was reduced for non-mirrored self-portraits, and absent for control pictures showing unknown males, unknown females, or empty backgrounds. Moreover, in two out of the three studies, the self-approach tendency was weakly related to explicit self-valuations measured with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and in one out of two studies, it was related to implicit self-evaluations measured with the Implicit Association Task (IAT). Implications and potential applications of the findings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieke M J Swinkels
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Hidde Gramser
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Eni S Becker
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Mike Rinck
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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15
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Vrijsen JN, Fischer VS, Müller BW, Scherbaum N, Becker ES, Rinck M, Tendolkar I. Cognitive bias modification as an add-on treatment in clinical depression: Results from a placebo-controlled, single-blinded randomized control trial. J Affect Disord 2018; 238:342-350. [PMID: 29908472 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Only 60% of depressed patients respond sufficiently to treatment, so there is a dire need for novel approaches to improve treatment effects. Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) may be an effective and easily implemented computerized add-on to treatment-as-usual. Therefore, we investigated the effects of a positivity-attention training and a positivity-approach training compared to control trainings. METHODS In a blinded randomized-controlled design, 139 depressed inpatients received either the CBM Attention Dot-Probe Training (DPT) or the CBM Approach-Avoidance Training (AAT), next to treatment as usual. N = 121 finished all four training sessions. Both trainings had an active and a control condition. In both active conditions, patients were trained to preferentially process generally positive pictures over neutral pictures. Depressive symptom severity was assessed before and after CBM, and positivity bias was measured at the start and end of each session. RESULTS Clinician-rated depressive symptom severity decreased more in patients who received the active condition of the DPT or the AAT compared to patients in the control conditions. Significant change in positivity bias was found for the DPT (not the AAT), but did not mediate the effect of the training on depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that both types of CBM (i.e., DPT and AAT) may provide a fitting add-on treatment option for clinical depression. The working mechanisms and optimal dose of CBM trainings, plus their possible combination, should be examined in more detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janna N Vrijsen
- Department of Psychiatry, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Pro Persona Mental Health Care, Depression Expertise Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Verena S Fischer
- LVR-Hospital Essen, Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - Bernhard W Müller
- LVR-Hospital Essen, Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany; Department of Psychology, University of Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Norbert Scherbaum
- LVR-Hospital Essen, Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - Eni S Becker
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mike Rinck
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Indira Tendolkar
- Department of Psychiatry, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; LVR-Hospital Essen, Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
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16
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Ferrari GRA, Möbius M, Becker ES, Spijker J, Rinck M. Working mechanisms of a general positivity approach-avoidance training: Effects on action tendencies as well as on subjective and physiological stress responses. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2018; 59:134-141. [PMID: 29408051 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2018.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The general positivity training, a Cognitive Bias Modification procedure modifying individuals' approach-avoidance tendencies to positively and negatively valenced pictures by means of a joystick task, has been proven effective in attenuating stress reactivity in dysphoric students. The present study explored which training component (pull positive pictures, push negative pictures, or both) is the active one in changing action tendencies and stress responses. METHODS Two-hundred-and-thirteen students completed one of four approach-avoidance trainings before being exposed to a stressful speech-task: The general positivity training (pull positive and push negative pictures), a training to approach positive pictures and avoid empty pictures (ApP), a training to avoid negative pictures and approach empty pictures (AvN), or a sham-training. RESULTS The pattern of results suggests that the groups trained to avoid negative pictures showed a stronger increase in positive approach-avoidance tendencies than the other two groups. However, only the positivity training induced significant within-group changes in positive bias. The groups further did not differ in self-report or cardiovascular measures of anxiety in response to the stress-task. Instead, the training affected mood directly: Exposure to negative pictures during the training increased state anxiety. LIMITATIONS Generalizability of the findings is limited by using an unselected student sample. Also, the use of empty pictures as neutral stimuli in the ApP and AvN could have weakened training effects in these groups. CONCLUSIONS Although our results hint at the importance of avoiding negative pictures for modifying an approach-avoidance bias, only the positivity training with both components may effectively induce a positive bias. Remarkably, we failed to replicate and extend previously reported effects of the training on stress-responses. Hence, it remains questionable whether the changes in bias reflect changes in underlying cognitive processing tendencies or task-specific learning effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina R A Ferrari
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Pro Persona, Center for Mental Health Care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Martin Möbius
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Eni S Becker
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - J Spijker
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Pro Persona, Center for Mental Health Care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mike Rinck
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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17
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Möbius M, Lacomblé L, Meyer T, Schutter DJLG, Gielkens T, Becker ES, Tendolkar I, van Eijndhoven P. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation modulates the impact of a negative mood induction. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2018; 12:526-533. [PMID: 28008080 PMCID: PMC5390712 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsw180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
High frequency repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has been found to alleviate depressive symptoms. However, the mechanisms driving these effects are still poorly understood. In the current study, we tested the idea that this intervention protects against negative mood shifts following emotional provocation. We furthermore explored changes in EEG activity (frontal alpha asymmetry) and effects on attentional processing (emotional Stroop). To this end, 23 healthy individuals participated in two sessions separated by one week, whereby they once received 15 min of 10Hz rTMS stimulation (1500 pulses) at 110% of the individual motor threshold, and once sham stimulation. Then, negative mood was induced using sad movie clips. The results revealed a significantly stronger mood decline following rTMS compared to sham stimulation. No changes were observed in frontal alpha asymmetry and attentional processing. Our findings are at odds with the view that high frequency rTMS over the left DLPFC directly protects against the induction of negative mood, but rather suggest that it enhances the effects of emotional provocation. Possibly, in healthy young individuals, this stimulation protocol heightens susceptibility to mood induction procedures in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Möbius
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lylis Lacomblé
- Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Meyer
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis J L G Schutter
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tom Gielkens
- Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Eni S Becker
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Indira Tendolkar
- Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LVR-Clinic Essen, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Philip van Eijndhoven
- Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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18
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De Carli P, Riem MM, Parolin L. Approach-avoidance responses to infant facial expressions in nulliparous women: Associations with early experience and mood induction. Infant Behav Dev 2017; 49:104-113. [DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2017.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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19
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Madan CR. Motivated Cognition: Effects of Reward, Emotion, and Other Motivational Factors Across a Variety of Cognitive Domains. COLLABRA-PSYCHOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1525/collabra.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
A growing body of literature has demonstrated that motivation influences cognitive processing. The breadth of these effects is extensive and span influences of reward, emotion, and other motivational processes across all cognitive domains. As examples, this scope includes studies of emotional memory, value-based attentional capture, emotion effects on semantic processing, reward-related biases in decision making, and the role of approach/avoidance motivation on cognitive scope. Additionally, other less common forms of motivation–cognition interactions, such as self-referential and motoric processing can also be considered instances of motivated cognition. Here I outline some of the evidence indicating the generality and pervasiveness of these motivation influences on cognition, and introduce the associated ‘research nexus’ at Collabra: Psychology.
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20
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Arnaudova I, Krypotos AM, Effting M, Kindt M, Beckers T. Manipulating affective state influences conditioned appetitive responses. Cogn Emot 2017; 32:1062-1081. [DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2017.1386624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Inna Arnaudova
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Amsterdam Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Angelos-Miltiadis Krypotos
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Amsterdam Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Marieke Effting
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Amsterdam Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Merel Kindt
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Amsterdam Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tom Beckers
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Amsterdam Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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21
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Approach and avoidance tendencies in depression and anxiety disorders. Psychiatry Res 2017; 256:475-481. [PMID: 28715782 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Revised: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Anxiety is linked to increased avoidance and inhibition, whereas depression is linked to decreased approach and diminished behavioral activation. Although these notions are widely recognized, systematic investigation of approach-avoidance tendencies is lacking across these diagnostic groups. Participants (mean age = 45.6; 65.8% female) were subdivided in healthy controls (405), remitted patients (877) and currently anxious (217), depressed (154) or comorbid (154) patients. Automatic approach-avoidance tendencies in reaction to facial expression were assessed using the Approach-Avoidance-Task (AAT). Self-reported trait approach and avoidance tendencies were assessed using the BIS/BAS scale. Severity of psychopathology was assessed to examine dose-response relationships. We did not find any consistent associations of automatic approach-avoidance tendencies with psychiatric variables. In contrast, medium to large differences in BIS scores showed increased trait avoidance tendencies in all patient groups relative to healthy controls. Overall, it seems that increased trait avoidance, rather than decreased approach, is a characteristic of affective disorders. This holds for both depressed and anxious patients and more strongly so in severe and chronic patients. It underlines the importance to address trait avoidance tendencies in the treatment of affective disorders.
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22
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Paulus MP, Stein MB, Craske MG, Bookheimer S, Taylor CT, Simmons AN, Sidhu N, Young KS, Fan B. Latent variable analysis of positive and negative valence processing focused on symptom and behavioral units of analysis in mood and anxiety disorders. J Affect Disord 2017; 216:17-29. [PMID: 28131628 PMCID: PMC5471118 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2016.12.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Revised: 12/24/2016] [Accepted: 12/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mood and anxiety disorders are highly heterogeneous and their underlying pathology is complex. The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) approach seeks to establish dimensionally and neuroscience-based descriptions of psychopathology that may inform better classification and treatment approaches. The current investigation sought to determine the latent variables underlying positive and negative valence processing in terms of symptoms and behavioral units of analysis. METHOD As part of an ongoing study, individuals with mood and anxiety problems were recruited largely from primary care clinics at UCLA (n=62) and UCSD (n=58). These participants underwent a comprehensive symptomatic and behavioral assessment. An implicit approach avoidance task and a modified dot probe detection task were used to measure positive and negative valence processing. RESULTS Principal components analysis with varimax rotation identified four symptom components, three behavioral components for the dot probe task, and two behavioral components for the implicit approach avoidance task. These components yielded two meta-components consisting of: negative valence symptoms, negative approach bias, and high sustained, selective attention; and positive valence symptoms, positive approach bias, and slow selective or sustained attention. The components did not differ between males and females, nor by age or medication status. LIMITATIONS The limitations are: (1) relatively small sample, (2) exploratory analysis strategy, (3) no test/re-test data, (4) no neural circuit analysis, and (5) limited reliability of behavioral data. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary data show that positive and negative valence processing domains load on independent dimensions. Taken together, multi-level assessment approaches combined with advanced statistical analyses may help to identify distinct positive and negative valence processes within a clinical population that cut across traditional diagnostic categories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin P Paulus
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
| | - Murray B Stein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michelle G Craske
- Department of Psychology, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, USA
| | - Susan Bookheimer
- Department of Psychology, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, USA
| | - Charles T Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alan N Simmons
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Natasha Sidhu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Katherine S Young
- Department of Psychology, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, USA
| | - Boyang Fan
- Department of Psychology, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, USA
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23
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Effects of Brief Behavioural Activation on Approach and Avoidance Tendencies in Acute Depression: Preliminary Findings. Behav Cogn Psychother 2016; 45:58-72. [PMID: 27692021 DOI: 10.1017/s1352465816000394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It has been suggested that the behavioural activation (BA) treatments for depression unfold their effects, at least partly, through changes in approach and avoidance tendencies. However, as yet, little research has examined the cognitive effects of these interventions. AIMS This study investigated the impact of a single session of BA on depressive symptomatology, self-reported avoidance, and behavioural approach and avoidance tendencies. METHOD Forty-six patients with a diagnosis of Major Depression were recruited from primary care psychological therapies services and block randomized to either a single session of behavioural activation (n = 22) or waiting list control (n = 24) delivered by an unblinded therapist. Self-reports of symptoms and cognitive factors were assessed before and after the one-week intervention phase. Approach and avoidance behavioural tendencies were assessed using the Approach-Avoidance Task (AAT). RESULTS Data from 40 participants (n = 20 in each group) was available for analyses. Depressive symptoms significantly decreased, and activation significantly increased from before to after treatment in the treatment group, but not in the control group. Performance on the AAT showed a trend indicating increased approach to positive valence stimuli in the treatment group, but not in the control group. Mediational analyses indicated small indirect effects of self-reported change in activation as mediators of the effect of condition on symptoms. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that a single session of BA can have significant effects on symptoms in clinically depressed patients. Results hint at the possibility that increased behavioural approach might mediate the effect of BA.
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24
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Huang H, Movellan J, Paulus MP, Harlé KM. The Influence of Depression on Cognitive Control: Disambiguating Approach and Avoidance Tendencies. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0143714. [PMID: 26605795 PMCID: PMC4659610 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysfunctions of approach and avoidance motivation play an important role in depression, which in turn may affect cognitive control, i.e., the ability to regulate thoughts and action to achieve internal goals. We use a novel experimental paradigm, i.e. a computer simulated driving-task, to study the impact of depression on cognitive control by measuring approach and avoidance actions in continuous time. In this task, 39 subjects with minimal to severe depression symptoms were instructed to use a joystick to move a virtual car as quickly as possible to a target point without crossing a stop-sign or crashing into a wall. We recorded their continuous actions on a joystick and found that depression 1) leads to further stopping distance to task target; and 2) increases the magnitude of late deceleration (avoidance) but not early acceleration (approach), which was only observed in the stop-sign condition. Taken together, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that depressed individuals have greater avoidance motivation near stopping target, but are minimally affected by approach motivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Huang
- Department of Cognitive Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Javier Movellan
- Machine Perception Lab, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Martin P. Paulus
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Katia M. Harlé
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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25
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Mokhtari S, Buttle H. The effect of observers' mood on the local processing of emotional faces: evidence from short-lived and prolonged mood States. Adv Cogn Psychol 2015; 11:14-21. [PMID: 25883696 PMCID: PMC4397264 DOI: 10.5709/acp-0167-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Accepted: 01/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined the effect of induced mood, varying in valence and longevity, on
local processing of emotional faces. It was found that negative facial
expression conveyed by the global level of the face interferes with efficient
processing of the local features. The results also showed that the duration of
involvement with a mood influenced the local processing. We observed that
attending to the local level of faces is not different in short-lived happy and
sad mood states. However, as the mood state is experienced for a longer period,
local processing was impaired in happy mood compared to sad mood. Taken
together, we concluded that both facial expressions and affective states
influence processing of the local parts of faces. Moreover, we suggest that
mediating factors like the duration of involvement with the mood play a role in
the interrelation between mood, attention, and perception.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heather Buttle
- School of Psychology, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
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26
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Hammer JL, Marsh AA. Why do fearful facial expressions elicit behavioral approach? Evidence from a combined approach-avoidance implicit association test. Emotion 2015; 15:223-31. [PMID: 25603135 PMCID: PMC4385234 DOI: 10.1037/emo0000054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Despite communicating a "negative" emotion, fearful facial expressions predominantly elicit behavioral approach from perceivers. It has been hypothesized that this seemingly paradoxical effect may occur due to fearful expressions' resemblance to vulnerable, infantile faces. However, this hypothesis has not yet been tested. We used a combined approach-avoidance/implicit association test (IAT) to test this hypothesis. Participants completed an approach-avoidance lever task during which they responded to fearful and angry facial expressions as well as neutral infant and adult faces presented in an IAT format. Results demonstrated an implicit association between fearful facial expressions and infant faces and showed that both fearful expressions and infant faces primarily elicit behavioral approach. The dominance of approach responses to both fearful expressions and infant faces decreased as a function of psychopathic personality traits. Results suggest that the prosocial responses to fearful expressions observed in most individuals may stem from their associations with infantile faces. (PsycINFO Database Record
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27
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Krypotos AM, Beckers T, Kindt M, Wagenmakers EJ. A Bayesian hierarchical diffusion model decomposition of performance in Approach-Avoidance Tasks. Cogn Emot 2014; 29:1424-44. [PMID: 25491372 PMCID: PMC4673543 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2014.985635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2014] [Revised: 10/08/2014] [Accepted: 11/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Common methods for analysing response time (RT) tasks, frequently used across different disciplines of psychology, suffer from a number of limitations such as the failure to directly measure the underlying latent processes of interest and the inability to take into account the uncertainty associated with each individual's point estimate of performance. Here, we discuss a Bayesian hierarchical diffusion model and apply it to RT data. This model allows researchers to decompose performance into meaningful psychological processes and to account optimally for individual differences and commonalities, even with relatively sparse data. We highlight the advantages of the Bayesian hierarchical diffusion model decomposition by applying it to performance on Approach-Avoidance Tasks, widely used in the emotion and psychopathology literature. Model fits for two experimental data-sets demonstrate that the model performs well. The Bayesian hierarchical diffusion model overcomes important limitations of current analysis procedures and provides deeper insight in latent psychological processes of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelos-Miltiadis Krypotos
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tom Beckers
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Merel Kindt
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eric-Jan Wagenmakers
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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28
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Woud ML, Becker ES, Lange WG, Rinck M. Effects of approach-avoidance training on implicit and explicit evaluations of neutral, angry, and smiling face stimuli. Psychol Rep 2014; 113:1211-28. [PMID: 24340811 DOI: 10.2466/21.07.pr0.113x10z1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
A growing body of evidence shows that the prolonged execution of approach movements towards stimuli and avoidance movements away from them affects their evaluation. However, there has been no systematic investigation of such training effects. Therefore, the present study compared approach-avoidance training effects on various valenced representations of one neutral (Experiment 1, N = 85), angry (Experiment 2, N = 87), or smiling facial expressions (Experiment 3, N= 89). The face stimuli were shown on a computer screen, and by means of a joystick, participants pulled half of the faces closer (positive approach movement), and pushed the other half away (negative avoidance movement). Only implicit evaluations of neutral-expression were affected by the training procedure. The boundary conditions of such approach-avoidance training effects are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella L Woud
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Eni S Becker
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Wolf-Gero Lange
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mike Rinck
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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29
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Vrijsen JN, van Oostrom I, Isaac L, Becker ES, Speckens A. Coherence Between Attentional and Memory Biases in Sad and Formerly Depressed Individuals. COGNITIVE THERAPY AND RESEARCH 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10608-013-9590-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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