Development and evaluation of a new paradigm for the assessment of anxiety-disorder-specific interpretation bias using picture stimuli

Abstract

An important factor in cognitive theories of anxiety disorders is the way in which information is processed. Findings support the existence of a biased information-processing style in anxious children. So far, cognitive biases in children with anxiety disorders are typically assessed as a general phenomenon. Thus, there is a lack of studies in children focusing on anxiety-disorder-specific interpretation bias. A new forced choice paradigm using anxiety-disorder-specific material was developed. Pictures illustrating separation and social situations were carefully generated and evaluated in a pre-study. In a school sample of 265 children the paradigm was investigated. The pictures were able to trigger emotional response and the paradigm demonstrated good internal consistency, and construct validity. Results clearly indicate evidence for content-specificity of the materials. Furthermore, preliminary results suggest a disorder-specific interpretation bias.