Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42679601›Full record

ArticleEBioMedicine2026

A tablet-based attentional cognitive bias modification intervention for positive emotion processing in major depressive disorder: a single-blind randomised controlled two-centre trial.

Zoe Katharina Kratochwil, Jessica Kesik, Duygu Keskin-Gökcelli, Katrin Sakreida, Norbert Scherbaum, Bernhard Wolfram Müller, Thomas Frodl

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In one paragraph

Article in EBioMedicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Zoe Katharina KratochwilLVR-University Hospital Essen, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstraße 174, Essen, 45147, Germany; Department of Psychology, University of Wuppertal, Gaußstraße 20, Wuppertal, 42119, Germany; Hospital of Duisburg-Essen, Centre for Translational Neuro and Behavioural Sciences (C-TNBS), Medical Faculty University, Hufelandstraße 55, Essen, 45147, Germany.
Jessica KesikDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, Aachen, 52074, Germany.
Duygu Keskin-GökcelliDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, Aachen, 52074, Germany.
Katrin SakreidaDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, Aachen, 52074, Germany.
Norbert ScherbaumLVR-University Hospital Essen, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstraße 174, Essen, 45147, Germany; Hospital of Duisburg-Essen, Centre for Translational Neuro and Behavioural Sciences (C-TNBS), Medical Faculty University, Hufelandstraße 55, Essen, 45147, Germany.
Bernhard Wolfram MüllerLVR-University Hospital Essen, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstraße 174, Essen, 45147, Germany; Department of Psychology, University of Wuppertal, Gaußstraße 20, Wuppertal, 42119, Germany; Hospital of Duisburg-Essen, Centre for Translational Neuro and Behavioural Sciences (C-TNBS), Medical Faculty University, Hufelandstraße 55, Essen, 45147, Germany.
Thomas FrodlDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, Aachen, 52074, Germany; German Centre for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Philosophenweg 3, Jena, 07742, Germany. Electronic address: tfrodl@ukaachen.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPatients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) exhibit biased information processing. This study investigates the clinical and neural efficacy of a cognitive bias modification (CBM) training in patients and healthy control (HCS), fostering processing of positive emotion stimuli.

methodsIn a single-blind randomised controlled trial (DRKS00029756), MDD outpatients and HCS, aged 18-60 years, were randomised to positivity training (PT) or control training (CT). Randomisation was carried out by study assistants, blinding researchers. Participants underwent 10 tablet-based dot-probe sessions over 14 days. PT implicitly redirected attention toward positive stimuli to improve depressive symptoms. Primary outcome was pre and post-training EEG-derived Early Posterior Negativity (EPN), investigating neural sensitivity towards positive stimuli. Secondary clinical outcomes included changes in depression symptoms.

findingsFrom February 2023 to October 2024, 240 participants were included (119 MDD; 121 HCS). 62 MDD and 61 HCS underwent PT; 57 MDD and 60 HCS received CT. In MDD, EPN to positive high arousal stimuli revealed an interaction between time (pre/post) and training (PT/CT), F(1,97) = 5.017, p < 0.028, η

interpretationCBM positivity training was associated with neural changes in MDD, supporting its potential to target pre-attentive positive emotion processing. Further EEG follow-up and higher stimulus contrasts in the training conditions may clarify clinical relevance.

fundingFunded by DFG (ID: 507720021).

Indexed as

Attention biasCognitive bias modification (CBM)Early posterior negativityEmotion-processing taskMajor depressive disorderPsychiatry

Identifiers

PMID42679601
PMCPMC13570274

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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.