Attention Bias Modification for Reducing Health Anxiety During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The outbreak of the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is a major stressor leading to increased levels of anxiety, and specifically, an excessive fear of being infected and affected by the disease among major parts of the population. At the same time, the access to mental health services is limited due to the lockdown policy applied in many countries worldwide, warranting the development of home-delivered interventions aimed at reducing stress and anxiety symptoms. Attention Bias modification (ABM) has been found to be an efficacious computerized intervention to reduce anxiety symptoms. In this open pilot trial, participants reporting on elevated levels of health anxiety concerning the COVID-19 epidemic will receive one session of ABM over 5 consecutive days (5 sessions total). Symptoms of health anxiety, state anxiety, generalized anxiety, and depression will be measured at baseline and post-treatment.

Official Title
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Attention Bias Modification for Reducing Health Anxiety During the Coronavirus Pandemic: An Open Pilot Trial

Conditions
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Anxiety

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Attention Bias Modification (ABM)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 3 or more symptoms (out of 7) reported in the COVID-19 anxiety inventory with a score of 4 or 5. Fluent Hebrew Having a PC computer at home with internet access Exclusion Criteria: A diagnosis of dyslexia or other reading disability

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Home-delivered attention bias modification (ABM)<br>A home-delivered ABM comprised of 5 sessions using a variant of the dot-probe task in which the target probe always replaces neutral rather than threat (health-related) stimuli to induce diversion of attention away from threat. | Behavioral: Attention Bias Modification (ABM)<br>* A home-delivered version of ABM will be administered in this open trial. ABM will be comprised of 5 sessions with a variation of the dot-probe task in which the target probe always replaces the neutral stimuli to induce diversion of attention away from threat. This condition was found effective in reducing anxiety symptoms.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline of the total score of a novel COVID-19 anxiety inventory | The COVID-19 anxiety inventory is a self-report questionnaire screening for concerns and fears regarding COVID-19 contagion. The Inventory consists of 6 items. Scores can range from 6 to 30, with higher scores denoting higher symptom severity. | up to 2 days pre-treatment and 1-2 days post-treatment | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline of the total score of the Health Anxiety Inventory | The Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI) is a validated self-report measure assessing health anxiety. Total score can range from 0 to 42, with higher scores denoting higher symptom severity | up to 2 days pre-treatment and 1-2 days post-treatment | 
| Change from baseline of the total score of the State Anxiety Inventory | The State Anxiety Inventory is a validated self-report measure for state anxiety. Total score can range from 20 to 80, with higher scores denoting higher levels of state anxiety. | up to 2 days pre-treatment and 1-2 days post-treatment | 
| Change from Baseline of the total score of the PHQ-9 | The PHQ-9 is a 9-item self-report scale for depression symptoms. Scores can range from 0 to 27, with higher scores reflecting more symptoms of depression. | up to 2 days pre-treatment and 1-2 days post-treatment | 
| Change from Baseline of the total score of the GAD-7 | The GAD-7 is a 7-item self-report scale for generalized anxiety symptoms. Scores can range from 0 to 21, with higher scores reflecting more symptoms of generalized anxiety. | up to 2 days pre-treatment and 1-2 days post-treatment |