Swipe up to smoke less cigarettes! Introducing a mobile Approach-Avoidance Task Application to fight Smoking

Abstract

Automatic tendencies to approach addictionrelated stimuli have been linked to the development and maintenance of harmful drug use behavior. Recent studies have shown that these automatic approaches can be directly addressed and modified by cognitive bias modification (CBM). However, the training and treatment effects are rather small and compliance could be impaired by time-consuming, multiple laboratory training sessions. Here we present a mobile variant of the Approach-Avoidance Task (app-AAT), which is evaluated by a feasibility study. The app-AAT is designed to improve the efficiency of CBM training by allowing smokers to access the training at any time, and by offering the option to track consumed cigarettes. Our first run with eight participants showed that the app was rated very positively with 4.2 out of 5 points (engagement: 3.7, functionality: 4.5, aesthetics: 4.4) by using the german Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS-G).

Keywords

• addiction
• approach-avoidance task
• aat
• approach bias
• cognitive bias
• cognitive bias modification
• cbm
• dual process model
• mobile applications
• smoking
• therapy
• usability