Computerized Attention Modification System for Social Anxiety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for social anxiety disorder, such as Cognitive-behavioral therapy, are costly and time-consuming, and existing methods fail to effectively address the underlying attention biases that contribute to anxiety, which are difficult to modify in clinically significant levels of anxiety.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a computer program that displays sets of stimuli to patients, allowing them to interact and focus on neutral rather than threat cues, thereby training attention away from negative stimuli, reducing anxiety associated with social settings through attention modification protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Cognitive-behavioral therapy is used to treat social anxiety disorder, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but treatment cost and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a computerized version of CBT therapy that replicates the therapeutic process. The system presents standardized therapeutic stimuli and guides patients through attention modification protocols without requiring a physical therapist present, thus copying the essential therapeutic mechanisms while eliminating time and cost constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables patients to undergo treatment sessions independently through computer interaction. The automated delivery of therapeutic stimuli and guided attention modification protocols allow patients to self-administer therapy, removing the need for constant therapist interaction and significantly reducing treatment time while maintaining effectiveness.
2Reliability
If traditional CBT therapy is used to treat social anxiety disorder, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but treatment cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a computerized version of CBT therapy that replicates the therapeutic process. The system presents standardized therapeutic stimuli and guides patients through attention modification protocols without requiring a physical therapist present, thus copying the essential therapeutic mechanisms while eliminating time and cost constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of human therapist-delivered CBT with an automated computer-based system. The computer delivers therapeutic stimuli, tracks patient responses, and guides attention modification protocols, substituting human therapeutic interaction with automated computational processes that reduce cost while maintaining effectiveness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If attention modification is attempted in patients with clinically significant anxiety, then treatment effectiveness is reduced, but attention biases remain difficult to modify
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by first assessing patient anxiety levels and attention biases before delivering therapeutic stimuli. The system uses pre-treatment assessments to identify specific attention patterns, then tailors the therapeutic intervention to address individual needs, making attention modification more effective for patients with clinically significant anxiety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor patient responses to therapeutic stimuli in real-time. By tracking attention patterns, response accuracy, and engagement metrics, the system adjusts subsequent stimuli delivery to optimize attention modification, thereby improving treatment effectiveness for patients with severe anxiety who require customized intervention strategies.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for treating patients with an anxiety disorder are disclosed. The systems comprise a screen for displaying sets of stimuli, a computer to control the display of stimuli onto the screen during at least one treatment session and the ability for the patient to interact with the screen in response to the displayed stimuli. The interaction of the patient with the system during the treatment session is capable of treating patient anxiety associated with an anxiety disorder, such as social anxiety. Also provided are computer programs capable of being used in the systems and methods of the present invention for treating anxiety.