Introduction: Past research showed that high levels of worry are associated with the tendency to interpret ambiguous information in a negative way. Cognitive bias modification for interpretation (CBM-I) effectively promotes a more positive (benign) interpretation bias, which reduces worry.


Purpose: As for any intervention, individuals differ in the degree of improvement in symptoms following CBM-I. The purpose of the present study was to identify factors that predict change following CBM-I.


Method: A total of worry-prone students (N = 289) between 18-25 years old were enrolled in the study. At baseline, participants completed a battery of tests that assess individual differences in attentional control, cognitive flexibility, responses to positive affect, and imagery ability. Change in interpretation bias and worry were assessed post training and at 1 month and 3 months follow-up. Participants (n = 106) who completed a full dose of CBM-I training were included in the analysis.


Results: The set of predictors accounted for 18-25% of the variance in changes in interpretation bias and worry from pre to post CBM-I training. Specifically, high worriers with lower dampening of positive affect showed significantly greater increase in positive interpretation bias as well as greater reductions in negative thought intrusions (a behavioural worry task) at the end of the intervention, compared to those with greater dampening of positive affect. However, the set of predictors was unsuccessful in explaining change in trait worry in the longer term (1 month and 3 months follow up).


Conclusions: This is the first study to predict change in symptoms following CBM-I training. However, given the cognitive processes that predicted the outcome at the end of CBM-I intervention did not translate to the prediction of longer-term outcome (1 and 3 months follow-up), further research is needed.