Positive imagery-based cognitive bias modification as a web-based treatment tool for depressed adults: a randomized controlled trial
Positive imagery-based cognitive bias modification as a web-based treatment tool for depressed adults: a randomized controlled trial
Depression is a global health problem requiring treatment innovation. Targeting neglected cognitive aspects may provide a useful route. We tested a cognitive-training paradigm using positive mental imagery (imagery cognitive bias modification, imagery CBM), developed via experimental psychopathology studies, in a randomized controlled trial. Training was delivered via the Internet to 150 individuals with current major depression. Unexpectedly, there was no significant advantage for imagery CBM compared with a closely matched control for depression symptoms as a whole in the full sample. In exploratory analyses, compared with the control, imagery CBM significantly improved anhedonia over the intervention and improved depression symptoms as a whole for those participants with fewer than five episodes of depression and those who engaged to a threshold level of imagery. Results suggest avenues for improving imagery CBM to inform low-intensity treatment tools for depression. Anhedonia may be a useful treatment target for future work.
91-111
Blackwell, Simon E.
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Browning, Michael
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Mathews, Andrew
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Pictet, Arnaud
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Watson, Peter
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Geddes, John R.
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Holmes, Emily A
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Blackwell, Simon E.
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Browning, Michael
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Mathews, Andrew
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Pictet, Arnaud
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Watson, Peter
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Geddes, John R.
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Holmes, Emily A
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Blackwell, Simon E., Browning, Michael, Mathews, Andrew, Pictet, Arnaud, Welch, James, Davies, Jim, Watson, Peter, Geddes, John R. and Holmes, Emily A
(2015)
Positive imagery-based cognitive bias modification as a web-based treatment tool for depressed adults: a randomized controlled trial.
Clinical Psychological Science, 3 (1), .
(doi:10.1177/2167702614560746).
Abstract
Depression is a global health problem requiring treatment innovation. Targeting neglected cognitive aspects may provide a useful route. We tested a cognitive-training paradigm using positive mental imagery (imagery cognitive bias modification, imagery CBM), developed via experimental psychopathology studies, in a randomized controlled trial. Training was delivered via the Internet to 150 individuals with current major depression. Unexpectedly, there was no significant advantage for imagery CBM compared with a closely matched control for depression symptoms as a whole in the full sample. In exploratory analyses, compared with the control, imagery CBM significantly improved anhedonia over the intervention and improved depression symptoms as a whole for those participants with fewer than five episodes of depression and those who engaged to a threshold level of imagery. Results suggest avenues for improving imagery CBM to inform low-intensity treatment tools for depression. Anhedonia may be a useful treatment target for future work.
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blackwell-et-al-2015-positive-imagery-based-cognitive-bias-modification-as-a-web-based-treatment-tool-for-depressed
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Accepted/In Press date: 25 July 2014
e-pub ahead of print date: 6 January 2015
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 508035
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/508035
ISSN: 2167-7026
PURE UUID: 529cc038-f426-4bc5-90fb-fa80b893258f
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Date deposited: 12 Jan 2026 17:36
Last modified: 13 Jan 2026 03:13
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Contributors
Author:
Simon E. Blackwell
Author:
Michael Browning
Author:
Andrew Mathews
Author:
Arnaud Pictet
Author:
James Welch
Author:
Jim Davies
Author:
Peter Watson
Author:
John R. Geddes
Author:
Emily A Holmes
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