Modifying thought-action fusion via a single-session computerized interpretation training

•We tested cognitive bias modification for thought-action fusion (TAF) biases.•Brief cognitive bias modification successfully reduced overall TAF severity.•Reductions were more pronounced for moral than likelihood TAF.•Negative emotional reactions to idiographic obsessions were also reduced.•Our data support the potential utility of the intervention to directly reduce TAF.

Thought-action fusion (TAF) is an important cognitive bias in various emotional disorders, especially, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). TAF leads individuals to interpret the presence of unwanted mental intrusions as morally equivalent to acting on them, and/or increasing the likelihood of the feared consequence. We sought to test the feasibility of a brief computerized cognitive bias modification for interpretations (CBM-I) as a potential intervention to reduce TAF among undergraduates who reported obsessional intrusions. We also examined if the TAF-focused CBM-I can decrease participants' emotional reactions towards a variety of obsessional thoughts, including personally-relevant intrusions. Participants were randomized to (a) the TAF-incongruent condition (TAF-INC), designed to decrease TAF linked to obsessional thoughts, or (b) the TAF-congruent condition (TAF-CON), designed to render TAF-like interpretation of obsessional thoughts unchallenged. Results indicate the TAF-INC group displayed a significantly greater reduction in the severity of total TAF and TAF moral than the TAF-CON group. Reductions on TAF likelihood did not differ by group. Emotional reaction to personally-relevant obsessional intrusions was also shown to be lower after training in the TAF-INC group. Overall, this study presents preliminary data supporting the feasibility of CBM-I to be used as an effective intervention for TAF.