Effect of internet-based attention bias modification on the anxiety of Japanese workers: A randomized controlled trial

Objectives: This study comprised a randomized controlled trial to examine the effect of internet-based attention bias modification (iABM) on reducing workers' anxiety. Methods: In total, 300 eligible participants were randomized according to sex and age; 180 were assigned to the intervention group and 120 to the control group. The word stimuli used in the iABM included eight positive words and eight neutral words. Participants were instructed to indicate the positive word's position as quickly and accurately as possible by tapping one of the two directions on display. The intervention included five sessions per participant over 1 month, resulting in a total of 600 trials. The main outcome measure was the total state anxiety score of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results: There was no significant difference in the net change in STAI scores between the intervention and control groups. The mean reaction time of the fifth session was significantly shorter than the mean reaction time of the first session. Furthermore, although there was no effect on the index of effect size Δ, the paired t-test showed a significant decrease in the anxiety score. Conclusions: The iABM intervention in this study did not enhance the amelioration of workers' anxiety when compared with the control condition.