Attentional bias in generalized anxiety disorder versus depressive disorder

This review evaluates evidence of attentional biases in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and depressive disorder from studies using modified Stroop and visual probe tasks. There appears to be fairly consistent evidence for an attentional bias for external negative cues in GAD, and for the involvem...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cognitive therapy and research 2005-02, Vol.29 (1), p.29-45
Main Authors: MOGG, Karin, BRADLEY, Brendan P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Anxiety disorders. Neuroses
Bias
Biological and medical sciences
Cognitive models
Depression
Emotional disorders
Emotions
Generalized anxiety disorder
Medical sciences
Mental depression
Miscellaneous
Mood disorders
Morbidity
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
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Summary:This review evaluates evidence of attentional biases in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and depressive disorder from studies using modified Stroop and visual probe tasks. There appears to be fairly consistent evidence for an attentional bias for external negative cues in GAD, and for the involvement of non-conscious processes in this bias. By contrast, in clinical depression, the evidence for an attentional bias is less robust, despite depressive disorder being commonly associated with high levels of co-morbid anxiety. Where an attentional bias has been found in depressed patients, it seems to occur mainly for self-relevant negative information which is presented under conditions that allow or encourage elaborative processing. Possible explanations for this discrepant pattern of results, and their theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.
ISSN:0147-5916
1573-2819
DOI:10.1007/s10608-005-1646-y