Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37307657›Full record

SynthesisBehaviour research and therapy2023

A systematic review with meta-analysis of cognitive bias modification interventions for anger and aggression.

Nicole K Ciesinski, McKenzie Himelein-Wachowiak, Lynette C Krick, Kristen M Sorgi-Wilson, Joey C Y Cheung, Michael S McCloskey

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Behaviour research and therapy, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Innovations to improve outcomes and uptake of psychotherapies for mental disorders: a state-of-the-art review.World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Nicole K CiesinskiDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, USA. Electronic address: nicole.ciesinski@temple.edu.
McKenzie Himelein-WachowiakDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, USA.
Lynette C KrickDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, USA.
Kristen M Sorgi-WilsonEdith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Bedford Veterans Affairs, USA.
Joey C Y CheungDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, USA.
Michael S McCloskeyDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, USA.

Funding

Psychophysiological Correlates of Cognitive Bias Modification in Intermittent Explosive DisorderF31MH133291 · NIMH · TEMPLE UNIV OF THE COMMONWEALTH · PI CIESINSKI, NICOLE KATHERINE · 2023 to 2025
$71k
NIMH NIH HHS F31 MH133291
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Aggression and anger are associated with interpretation and attention biases. Such biases have become treatment targets for anger and aggressive behavior in cognitive bias modification (CBM) interventions. Several studies have evaluated the efficacy of CBM for the treatment of anger and aggressive behavior, with inconsistent results. The present study meta-analytically analyzed 29 randomized controlled trial studies (N = 2334) published in EBSCOhost and PubMed between March 2013 and March 2023 assessing the efficacy of CBM for anger and/or aggression. Included studies delivered CBMs that addressed either attention biases, interpretation biases, or both. Risk of publication bias and potential moderating effects of several participant-, treatment- and study-related factors were assessed. CBM significantly outperformed control conditions in the treatment of aggression (Hedge's G = -0.23, 95% CI [-0.35, -0.11], p < .001) and anger (Hedge's G = -0.18, 95% CI [-0.28, -0.07], p = .001) independent of treatment dose, participant demographic characteristics, and study quality, though overall effects were small. Follow-up analyses demonstrated that only CBMs targeting interpretation bias were efficacious for aggression outcomes, but not when baseline aggression was accounted for. Findings suggest that CBM demonstrates efficacy for the treatment aggressive behavior and to a lesser extent, anger.

Indexed as

Cognitive Behavioral TherapyAggressionAngerBiasCognitionHumansaggressionangercognitive bias modificationmeta-analysisrandomized controlled trials

Identifiers

PMID37307657
PMCPMC10526745

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.