Attentional Bias as a Predictor of Treatment Outcome
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Attentional Bias as a Predictor of Treatment Outcome
IRAS ID
170616
Contact name
Lee Hogan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bangor University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This research is funded by KESS in collaboration with a partner organisation, CAIS. The study will take place in Hafan Wen detoxification unit in Wrexham. The study aims to explore whether attentional bias to certain categories of stimuli can predict treatment outcome in individuals with alcohol dependency. Attentional bias will be measured using an emotional Stroop task, which contains words that are emotionally salient to service users in detoxification. Salient words, such as alcohol-related words and words related to the change process in recovery will be compared to neutral words. During the task, participants are expected to respond to the colour of words presented on a computer screen while ignoring the word meaning. Slower reaction times to certain words indicate an attentional bias to these words, which could be predictive of treatment outcome. A number of questionnaires will also be distributed to the participants to determine if other factors such as anxiety levels could also predict treatment outcome. Participants will be followed-up at local treatment centres in the community three-months after leaving the detoxification unit. At these follow-up sessions participant’s drinking levels and other outcomes will be assessed. Discovering an implicit predictor of treatment success could help to objectively evaluate treatments and assist in the development of future treatments.
REC name
Wales REC 5
REC reference
15/WA/0015
Date of REC Opinion
27 Jan 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion