The influence of a dyadic gamified approach-avoidance training on attentional bias and approach tendency in addicted patients: a pilot study

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Phase 2

Study type

Interventional

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00011507

Enrollment

Registered

2017-06-09

Start date

2017-02-22

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-04-07

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

F10.2 F11.2 F12.2 F15.2 F13.2

Interventions

Group 1: Dyadic gamified approach-avoidance training in addition to treatment in the qualified detox programme

six session over the course of two weeks Group 2: Treatment as usual

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 65 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: - At least one diagnosed dependency on alcohol, pharmaceuticals, cannabis and/or amphetamines - Written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: - Failure to supply or withdrawal of written informed consent - No telephone contact possible, no permanent address - Inadequate oral and written knowledge of the German language - Known pregnancy - Schizophrenia or psychotic disorders - Dementia - Serious somatic illnesses that would impair the questioning or the participation in the dyadic gamified approach-avoidance training - Acute suicidality

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
As primary endpoints, we define the attentional bias scores and approach bias scores, measured with the dot-probe task and the AAT, respectively for substance-related image and word stimuli. Both measures will be repeated in both groups after twoo weeks. - Dot-probe-task (DPT): The dot-probe-task assesses the selective attention towards alcohol-related and emotional stimuli. Pairs of images will be presented on a computer screen for 50 milliseconds (alcohol-related/neutral, fearful/neutral faces). Then a dot will appear, to which the participants are supposed to react by pushing a button as fast as possible. If the dot appears on the left side of the screen, they are supposed to push with the left index finger. If the dot appears on the right side of the screen, they are supposed to react with the right index finger. - Approach avoidance task (AAT): The approach-avoidance task assesses the approach tendency towards substance-related stimuli and neutral stimuli. On a computer screen, images are presented in portrait or landscape format. Depending on the format, participants are supposed to push away or pull a joystick within 2 seconds. After 20 training trials, 40 trails with substance-related stimuli and 40 trials with neutral stimuli will take place. The difference in response time can be used as a measure for the approach tendency.	—

Measure

Time frame

As primary endpoints, we define the attentional bias scores and approach bias scores, measured with the dot-probe task and the AAT, respectively for substance-related image and word stimuli. Both measures will be repeated in both groups after twoo weeks. - Dot-probe-task (DPT): The dot-probe-task assesses the selective attention towards alcohol-related and emotional stimuli. Pairs of images will be presented on a computer screen for 50 milliseconds (alcohol-related/neutral, fearful/neutral faces). Then a dot will appear, to which the participants are supposed to react by pushing a button as fast as possible. If the dot appears on the left side of the screen, they are supposed to push with the left index finger. If the dot appears on the right side of the screen, they are supposed to react with the right index finger. - Approach avoidance task (AAT): The approach-avoidance task assesses the approach tendency towards substance-related stimuli and neutral stimuli. On a computer screen, images are presented in portrait or landscape format. Depending on the format, participants are supposed to push away or pull a joystick within 2 seconds. After 20 training trials, 40 trails with substance-related stimuli and 40 trials with neutral stimuli will take place. The difference in response time can be used as a measure for the approach tendency.

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Secondary

Measure	Time frame
The following instruments will be used in both groups: - Visual analogue scales for assessing grade of addiction, craving and self-efficacy - standardised assessment of previous drinking and consumption behaviour (Form 90) (Scheurich et al., 2005) - standardised assessment of sociodemographic data: sex, age, education, occupational qualifications - Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) (Derogatis & Savitz, 1999) - Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS, (Mann & Ackermann, 2000)) - Craving Automated Scale for Substances (CAS-S) (H.; Nakovics et al., 2012) - Mannheimer Craving Scale (MaCS, H. Nakovics, Diehl, Geiselhart, & Mann, 2009) - Biogenetic and socio-dynamic causal attribution for the development of addiction (Heberlein et al., 2014) - Modification of the Hanil Alcohol Insight Scale (Kim, Kim, Lee, Lee, & Oh, 1998) - Modification of the Alkohol-Abstinence Self-Efficacy-Scale (AASE; (McKiernan et al., 2011) After two weeks the following questiionnaires will be repeated: BSI, MACS, CASS, HAIS, AASE and Biogenetic and socio-dynamic causal attribution The following neuropsychological assessments will be conducted in the initial and final assessment in addition to dot-probe-task and AAT in both groups: - Implicit Association Test (IAT): Approach tendency towards substance related stimuli - Stroop Task: executive control over automatic processes After every training session the patients of the intervention group will locate their craving on a visual analogue scale. Additionally, the participants of the intervention group will answer standardised questions about the usefulness, effectiveness and satisfaction with the training after the completion of six sessions. Three months after discharge the consumption behaviour of the participants will be assessed again in a follow up interview over the telephone.	—

Measure

Time frame

The following instruments will be used in both groups: - Visual analogue scales for assessing grade of addiction, craving and self-efficacy - standardised assessment of previous drinking and consumption behaviour (Form 90) (Scheurich et al., 2005) - standardised assessment of sociodemographic data: sex, age, education, occupational qualifications - Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) (Derogatis & Savitz, 1999) - Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS, (Mann & Ackermann, 2000)) - Craving Automated Scale for Substances (CAS-S) (H.; Nakovics et al., 2012) - Mannheimer Craving Scale (MaCS, H. Nakovics, Diehl, Geiselhart, & Mann, 2009) - Biogenetic and socio-dynamic causal attribution for the development of addiction (Heberlein et al., 2014) - Modification of the Hanil Alcohol Insight Scale (Kim, Kim, Lee, Lee, & Oh, 1998) - Modification of the Alkohol-Abstinence Self-Efficacy-Scale (AASE; (McKiernan et al., 2011) After two weeks the following questiionnaires will be repeated: BSI, MACS, CASS, HAIS, AASE and Biogenetic and socio-dynamic causal attribution The following neuropsychological assessments will be conducted in the initial and final assessment in addition to dot-probe-task and AAT in both groups: - Implicit Association Test (IAT): Approach tendency towards substance related stimuli - Stroop Task: executive control over automatic processes After every training session the patients of the intervention group will locate their craving on a visual analogue scale. Additionally, the participants of the intervention group will answer standardised questions about the usefulness, effectiveness and satisfaction with the training after the completion of six sessions. Three months after discharge the consumption behaviour of the participants will be assessed again in a follow up interview over the telephone.

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Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactUlrich Frischknecht

Zentralinstitut für Seelische GesundheitKlinik für Abhängiges Verhalten und Suchtmedizin

ulrich.frischknecht@zi-mannheim.de0621 1703-3926

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026