Investigating attention patterns in young people with anxiety
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating attention patterns in young people with anxiety
IRAS ID
225926
Contact name
Jennifer Lau
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 8 months, 31 days
Research summary
The current study aims to test the efficacy of a new eye-tracking-based attention training program, in reducing levels of anxiety in anxious adolescents. Anxiety disorders in adolescence are highly prevalent, and yet a surprisingly neglected area of research. While current treatments target a wide range of psychological risk factors e.g. negative thoughts and difficulties extinguishing fears, the therapeutic potential of some widely studied cognitive processes, such as attention, have not yet been realised.
This study will focus in investigating how we can target maladaptive attention processes, due to their link with anxiety disorders: Selective attention to threat over neutral stimuli and increased attention 'capture' by threat stimuli have both been associated with high levels of adolescent anxiety.
A growing selection of evidence suggest some promise in the use of ‘Attention Bias Modification” approaches to modify these attention biases and decrease levels of anxiety, however these results have been inconsistent across studies. Eye-tracking methods may provide an effective tool for both modification and measurement of attention biases. This approach would allow us to more directly probe the orienting and engagement of attention by threat, providing us with real-time data to identify abnormal viewing patterns and then actively divert attention back toward neutral over threatening stimuli. It is proposed that this process of reducing attention bias toward threat would result in a reduction in anxiety symptoms.
We aim to recruit up to 99 12-18 year olds who are currently waiting for treatment following a diagnosis of generalised or social anxiety disorder, within the South London and Maudsley NHS trust. The study will take place over 4 months, at the Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, at King’s College London. The study will consist of pre and post measures of attention and symptoms, as well as eight 20-minute attention training sessions over 4-weeks.
REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/1302
Date of REC Opinion
4 Sep 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion