A qualitative study of the acceptability of cognitive bias modification for paranoia (CBM-pa) in patients with psychosis

TY - JOUR

T1 - A qualitative study of the acceptability of cognitive bias modification for paranoia (CBM-pa) in patients with psychosis

AU - Leung, C J

AU - Fosuaah, A

AU - Frerichs, J

AU - Heslin, M

AU - Kabir, T

AU - Lee, T M C

AU - McGuire, P

AU - Meek, C

AU - Mouchlianitis, E

AU - Nath, A S

AU - Peters, E

AU - Shergill, S

AU - Stahl, D

AU - Trotta, A

AU - Yiend, J

PY - 2019/7/23

Y1 - 2019/7/23

N2 - BACKGROUND: Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) has been used successfully as a computer-based intervention in disorders such as anxiety. However, CBM to modify interpretations of ambiguous information relevant to paranoia has not yet been tested. We conducted a qualitative investigation of a novel intervention called CBM for paranoia (CBM-pa) to examine its acceptability in patients with psychosis.METHODS: Eight participants with psychosis who completed CBM-pa were identified by purposive sampling and invited for a semi-structured interview to explore the facilitators and barriers to participation, optimum form of delivery, perceived usefulness of CBM-pa and their opinions on applying CBM-pa as a computerised intervention. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis by researchers working in collaboration with service users.RESULTS: Themes emerged relating to participants' perception about delivery, engagement, programme understanding, factors influencing experience, perceived impact and application of CBM-pa. CBM-pa was regarded as easy, straightforward and enjoyable. It was well-accepted among those we interviewed, who understood the procedure as a psychological intervention. Patients reported that it increased their capacity for adopting alternative interpretations of emotionally ambiguous scenarios. Although participants all agreed on the test-like nature of the current CBM-pa format, they considered that taking part in sessions had improved their overall wellbeing. Most of them valued the computer-based interface of CBM-pa but favoured the idea of combining CBM-pa with some form of human interaction.CONCLUSIONS: CBM-pa is an acceptable intervention that was well-received by our sample of patients with paranoia. The current findings reflect positively on the acceptability and experience of CBM-pa in the target population. Patient opinion supports further development and testing of CBM-pa as a possible adjunct treatment for paranoia.TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN: 90749868 . Retrospectively registered on 12 May 2016.

AB - BACKGROUND: Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) has been used successfully as a computer-based intervention in disorders such as anxiety. However, CBM to modify interpretations of ambiguous information relevant to paranoia has not yet been tested. We conducted a qualitative investigation of a novel intervention called CBM for paranoia (CBM-pa) to examine its acceptability in patients with psychosis.METHODS: Eight participants with psychosis who completed CBM-pa were identified by purposive sampling and invited for a semi-structured interview to explore the facilitators and barriers to participation, optimum form of delivery, perceived usefulness of CBM-pa and their opinions on applying CBM-pa as a computerised intervention. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis by researchers working in collaboration with service users.RESULTS: Themes emerged relating to participants' perception about delivery, engagement, programme understanding, factors influencing experience, perceived impact and application of CBM-pa. CBM-pa was regarded as easy, straightforward and enjoyable. It was well-accepted among those we interviewed, who understood the procedure as a psychological intervention. Patients reported that it increased their capacity for adopting alternative interpretations of emotionally ambiguous scenarios. Although participants all agreed on the test-like nature of the current CBM-pa format, they considered that taking part in sessions had improved their overall wellbeing. Most of them valued the computer-based interface of CBM-pa but favoured the idea of combining CBM-pa with some form of human interaction.CONCLUSIONS: CBM-pa is an acceptable intervention that was well-received by our sample of patients with paranoia. The current findings reflect positively on the acceptability and experience of CBM-pa in the target population. Patient opinion supports further development and testing of CBM-pa as a possible adjunct treatment for paranoia.TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN: 90749868 . Retrospectively registered on 12 May 2016.

KW - Cognitive bias modification

KW - Interpretation bias

KW - Paranoia

KW - Psychosis

KW - Qualitative research

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85069789362&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1186/s12888-019-2215-3

DO - 10.1186/s12888-019-2215-3

M3 - Article

C2 - 31337373

SN - 1471-244X

VL - 19

JO - BMC Psychiatry

JF - BMC Psychiatry

IS - 1

M1 - 225

ER -