Psychosomatic interventions: the role of Interpretation bias in fatigue
Method Stream: Longitudinal Intensive Methods
ECs: Both 14 and 23 EC thesis possible
Description:
A growing body of research shows that automatic and unconscious mental processes, so-called cognitive biases, play a causal role in health-related behaviors (healthy food, alcohol abuse), in somatic disease symptoms like chronic fatigue, and in mental health disorders. Traditional psychosocial interventions, however, do not target these cognitive biases. Computer-mediated techniques, Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM), have recently emerged that can correct these maladaptive biases with simple repetitive association tasks.
CBM techniques have been developed for different cognitive biases related to fatigue, including attentional bias (Att-CBM), self-identity bias (SI-CBM; Geerts 2023; Wolbers 2021), and interpretation bias (I-CBM). It is unclear to what extent these techniques have effects that are process-specific, or rather generic.
In this thesis project, we will work with an existing I-CBM technique, targeting biased interpretations of ambiguous cues (based on work by Hughes, Sharpe, and Mathews, see refs below). We will conduct an pilot-experiment (optionally with a non-treatment control group, and an active CBM group), exposing the experimental condition to a few daily smartphone-delivered CBM-I sessions. Main outcome measure will be the change in interpretation bias, which will be measured with an Ambiguous Scenario Task (also available for this project, based on Hughes et al.).
To test the specificity of the I-CBM, we will also measure a SI-bias using an existing IAT (implicit association task; Geerts, 2023).
The general research aims are:
· Is CBM-I effective in correcting the fatigue interpretation bias?
· Is CBM-I effective in correcting the fatigue self-identity bias (IAT)
Some additional research questions for individual thesis topics include:
· Is CBM-I effective in improving behavioral outcomes (all-or-nothing behavior, procrastination, physical activity)?
· Is CBM-I effective in improving health-related outcomes (like self-reported fatigue, vitality, mental health or quality of life measures)?
· Are CBM-I effects dependent on other characteristics (moderators)?
References
Some readings on the topic:
Jones & Sharpe, 2017
Leung et al., 2022
Kakoschke et al., 2017
Martinelli et al., 2022
Sharpe et al., 2022
Hughes et al., 2017
Mathews et al., 2007
Prior studies in our group on fatigue CBM:
Wolbers et al., 2021
Geerts et al., 2023