Effectiveness of an abbreviated version of the automated attention training technique (ATT) for stress reduction in a non-clinical sample—A randomized controlled trial

Bibliographic Data

ID15710847
AuthorsAnna Baumeister (0000-0002-1255-6466, Universität Hamburg, corresponding author), Sina Böger, L Schindler (0009-0007-5102-3834, Universität Hamburg), Jan Philipp Klein (0000-0001-9882-2261, University of Lübeck), Steffen Möritz (0000-0002-0085-1804, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf)
Year2024
Volume32
Pages100772-100772
Publication date2024-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Contextual Behavioral Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2212-1447 • E-ISSN: 2212-1455
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100772
OpenAlexW4396677544
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited37

Stress is one of the leading risk factors for mental health problems. The attention training technique (ATT), developed in the context of metacognitive therapy, is a method for increasing flexible control of attention and might thus reduce the impact of stressful events on mental health. Developed as a 12-minute exercise, ATT is primarily used in a clinical context. To ensure low-threshold implementation by the general population in everyday life, we developed an abbreviated 5-minute version of the ATT. The present study examined the effectiveness of this abbreviated ATT in reducing stress in a three-armed randomized controlled trial by comparing the abbreviated version (ATTabbr; n = 74) with the long version (ATTlong; n = 67) and a waitlist control group (WCG; n = 77) in a non-clinical sample. The primary outcome was change on the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). In the intention-to-treat analysis of changes from baseline to follow-up, both the abbreviated ATT version and the long ATT version were superior to the WCG in the reduction of stress (d = 0.67 for the abbreviated version and d = 0.44 for the long version). From post to follow-up, reductions in stress were greater for the abbreviated version than the long version (d = 0.37). We also observed effects of both ATT versions on depression and anxiety but no effect on attention control, perseverative thinking, or quality of life. For the abbreviated version, we found preliminary evidence a dose-response relationship. Participants with access to the abbreviated version conducted the training twice as often compared with those with access to the long version. These results suggest that the abbreviated version of the ATT is associated with greater adherence and possibly greater effects on stress than the long version. If these results are confirmed, the abbreviated version could be used to reduce stress and increase mental well-being in the general population

Anxiety · Context (archaeology · DASS · Depression (economics · Mental health · Psychiatry · Psychotherapist · Quality of life (healthcare · Randomized controlled trial · Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes · Clinical Psychology · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Medicine · Mind wandering and attention · Psychology · Internal Medicine

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