The effect of emotional working memory training on emotional and cognitive outcomes in individuals with elevated social anxiety

Journal article


du Toit, Simone, Kade, Saif A., Danielson, Craig T., Schweizer, Susanne, Han, Jin, Torok, Michelle and Wong, Quincy J. J.. (2020). The effect of emotional working memory training on emotional and cognitive outcomes in individuals with elevated social anxiety. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports. 261, pp. 76-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.09.085
Authorsdu Toit, Simone, Kade, Saif A., Danielson, Craig T., Schweizer, Susanne, Han, Jin, Torok, Michelle and Wong, Quincy J. J.
Abstract

Background
Although cognitive-behavioural therapy is the gold standard psychological treatment for individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD), it does not benefit everyone. Emotional working memory training (eWMT) is a promising alternative intervention. This study examined the effects of eWMT versus control training (CT) on emotional and cognitive outcomes in individuals with elevated social anxiety.

Methods
Forty participants with elevated social anxiety were randomly allocated to eWMT (n = 21) or CT (n = 19), each consisting of six training sessions. At pre- and post-training, participants completed: a working memory task, an impromptu speech, and self-reported measures of emotional and cognitive outcomes (anticipatory processing, peak anxiety and attentional focus during the speech, post-event processing).

Results
Participants in both training conditions exhibited performance improvements on their respective training tasks. As expected, there was a Time x Condition interaction for peak anxiety, reflecting a decrease in peak anxiety for the eWMT condition but not the CT condition. Exploratory analyses also indicated a Time x Condition interaction for an aspect of post-event processing, reflecting a decrease in thinking about the past for the eWMT condition but not the CT condition.

Limitations
Although the level of social anxiety of the current sample is comparable to that of samples of individuals diagnosed with SAD in the literature, participant diagnoses were not assessed in this study.

Conclusions
The findings suggest that eWMT has potential as an alternative intervention for individuals with elevated social anxiety.

Keywordssocial anxiety disorder; social phobia; working memory training; treatment
Year2020
JournalJournal of Affective Disorders Reports
Journal citation261, pp. 76-83
PublisherElsevier B.V.
ISSN0165-0327
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.09.085
PubMed ID31605835
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85072987893
Page range76-83
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online30 Sep 2019
Publication process dates
Accepted30 Sep 2019
Deposited22 Jun 2023
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