Improving the psychometric properties of dot-probe attention measures using response-based computation. (September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Evans, Travis C.; Britton, Jennifer C.
• Is Part Of: Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry. Volume 60(2018)
• Page Start: 95
• Page End: 103
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Subjects: Attention bias -- Attention -- Threat -- Information processing -- Anxiety -- Psychometric properties -- Clinical utility; Behavior therapy -- Periodicals; 616.89142
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2018.01.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0005-7916

Abstract

Abstract: Background and objectives: Abnormal threat-related attention in anxiety disorders is most commonly assessed and modified using the dot-probe paradigm; however, poor psychometric properties of reaction-time measures may contribute to inconsistencies across studies. Typically, standard attention measures are derived using average reaction-times obtained in experimentally-defined conditions. However, current approaches based on experimentally-defined conditions are limited. In this study, the psychometric properties of a novel response-based computation approach to analyze dot-probe data are compared to standard measures of attention. Methods: 148 adults (19.19 ± 1.42 years, 84 women) completed a standardized dot-probe task including threatening and neutral faces. We generated both standard and response-based measures of attention bias, attentional orientation, and attentional disengagement. We compared overall internal consistency, number of trials necessary to reach internal consistency, test-retest reliability (n = 72), and criterion validity obtained using each approach. Results: Compared to standard attention measures, response-based measures demonstrated uniformly high levels of internal consistency with relatively few trials and varying improvements in test-retest reliability. Additionally, response-based measures demonstrated specific evidence of anxiety-related associations above and beyond both standard attention measures and other confounds. Limitations: Future studies are necessary to validate this approach in clinical samples. Conclusions: Response-based attention measures demonstrate superior psychometric properties compared to standard attention measures, which may improve the detection of anxiety-related associations and treatment-related changes in clinical samples. Highlights: Response-based measures demonstrated strong internal consistency. Standard measures demonstrated no evidence of internal consistency. Response-based measures demonstrated improved stability across time. Standard measures demonstrated no evidence of stability across time. State anxiety was uniquely associated with the ratio of response-based orientation.