Cognitive Bias Modification and Cognitive Control Training in Addiction and Related Psychopathology

TLDR

Research over the past decade has focused on training paradigms that directly target cognitive processes in addiction and other psychopathology, notably cognitive bias modification to alter maladaptive motivational biases and cognitive control training to enhance general executive functions, reflecting a dual‑process view of disorder‑specific impulsivity and weak reflective control. The authors review dual‑process evidence in addiction and argue that advancing theory and elucidating underlying neurocognitive mechanisms are essential to address criticisms and refine training paradigms for clinical use.

Abstract

The past decade has witnessed a surge in research on training paradigms aimed at directly influencing cognitive processes in addiction and other psychopathology. Broadly, two avenues have been explored: In the first, the aim was to change maladaptive cognitive motivational biases (cognitive bias modification); in the second, the aim was to increase general control processes (e.g., working memory capacity). These approaches are consistent with a dual-process perspective in which psychopathology is related to a combination of disorder-specific impulsive processes and weak general abilities to control these impulses in view of reflective longer-term considerations. After reviewing the evidence for dual-process models in addiction, we discuss a number of critical issues, along with suggestions for further research. We argue that theoretical advancement, along with a better understanding of the underlying neurocognitive processes, is crucial for adequately responding to recent criticisms on dual-process models and for optimizing training paradigms for use in clinical practice.