Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39222349›Full record

SynthesisJMIR mental health2024

Smartphone-Delivered Attentional Bias Modification Training for Mental Health: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Bilikis Banire, Matt Orr, Hailey Burns, Youna McGowan, Rita Orji, Sandra Meier

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in JMIR mental health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

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

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
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.

Bilikis BanireDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-0584-6721
Matt OrrDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-5656-1902
Hailey BurnsFaculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Saint John, NB, Canada.ORCID 0009-0002-4024-8847
Youna McGowanDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.ORCID 0009-0001-5080-1530
Rita OrjiFaculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-6152-8034
Sandra MeierDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-3287-5894

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSmartphone-delivered attentional bias modification training (ABMT) intervention has gained popularity as a remote solution for alleviating symptoms of mental health problems. However, the existing literature presents mixed results indicating both significant and insignificant effects of smartphone-delivered interventions.

objectiveThis systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the impact of smartphone-delivered ABMT on attentional bias and symptoms of mental health problems. Specifically, we examined different design approaches and methods of administration, focusing on common mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, and design elements, including gamification and stimulus types.

methodsOur search spanned from 2014 to 2023 and encompassed 4 major databases: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus. Study selection, data extraction, and critical appraisal were performed independently by 3 authors using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. When necessary, we pooled the standardized mean difference with a 95% CI. In addition, we conducted sensitivity, subgroup, and meta-regression analyses to explore moderator variables of active and placebo ABMT interventions on reducing symptoms of mental health problems and attentional bias.

resultsOur review included 12 papers, involving a total of 24,503 participants, and we were able to conduct a meta-analysis on 20 different study samples from 11 papers. Active ABMT exhibited an effect size (Hedges g) of -0.18 (P=.03) in reducing symptoms of mental health problems, while the overall effect remained significant. Similarly, placebo ABMT showed an effect size of -0.38 (P=.008) in reducing symptoms of mental health problems. In addition, active ABMT (Hedges g -0.17; P=.004) had significant effects on reducing attentional bias, while placebo ABMT did not significantly alter attentional bias (Hedges g -0.04; P=.66).

conclusionsOur understanding of smartphone-delivered ABMT's potential highlights the value of both active and placebo interventions in mental health care. The insights from the moderator analysis also showed that tailoring smartphone-delivered ABMT interventions to specific threat stimuli and considering exposure duration are crucial for optimizing their efficacy. This research underscores the need for personalized approaches in ABMT to effectively reduce attentional bias and symptoms of mental health problems.

trial registrationPROSPERO CRD42023460749; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=460749.

Indexed as

Attentional BiasSmartphoneHumansMental Disordersanxietyattentional biasdepressionmental health problemmeta-analysismobile phonesmartphonesystematic review

Identifiers

PMID39222349
PMCPMC11406109

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.