ISSN 0439-755X
CN 11-1911/B

Acta Psychologica Sinica ›› 2024, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (10): 1351-1366.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01351

• Reports of Empirical Studies • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Internet-based cognitive bias modification of interpretation in health anxiety: A randomized controlled trial

DU Xiayu1,2,3, LAI Lizu1,2,3, SHI Congrong1,2,3, GUO Zihan1,2,3, HAN Jing1,2,3, ZHANG Tao1,2,3, REN Zhihong1,2,3()   

  1. 1Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education
    2School of Psychology, Central China Normal University
    3Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430079, China). Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430079, China
  • Published:2024-10-25 Online:2024-07-10
  • Contact: REN Zhihong E-mail:ren@ccnu.edu.cn

Abstract:

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the impact of an internet-based Cognitive Bias Modification - Interpretation (iCBM-I) intervention on health anxiety, factors influencing its effectiveness, and the role of catastrophic interpretation in mediating intervention outcomes. In a randomized controlled trial, 228 participants diagnosed with health anxiety were allocated to one of three groups: the iCBM-I intervention group, which received 100% positive feedback (N = 76); an attentional control group, which received a balanced 50% positive and 50% negative feedback (N = 76); and a waiting group (N = 76) that did not participate in any training. Both the intervention and attentional control groups underwent 12 days of online task training. Measurements of health anxiety, catastrophizing interpretations, general anxiety, and depression were taken at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and one month following the intervention. The findings indicated significant immediate and sustained one-month post-intervention effects of the iCBM-I on reducing catastrophizing interpretations, general anxiety, and depressive symptoms among participants with health anxiety, compared to those in the waiting group. Furthermore, longitudinal mediation analysis using a latent growth curve model demonstrated that the iCBM-I intervention ameliorated health anxiety by reducing catastrophic interpretations, relative to the attention control group. This study contributes a novel perspective on the efficacy of network-based interventions for health anxiety and suggests that future research should explore the integration of top-down and bottom-up approaches to enhance the effectiveness of interventions targeting health anxiety.

Key words: Health anxiety, Cognitive bias modification, Randomized controlled trial, Latent growth curve model, Longitudinal mediation