Hypothesis
Approach-avoidance training, which had shown early promise for shifting implicit alcohol associations, and two new versions targeting implicit drinking identity, would change implicit associations and reduce drinking in US undergraduates.
What failed
Across two studies (300 social drinkers and 288 at-risk drinkers randomised to real or sham training in two sessions), none of the three training variants produced evidence of change in implicit alcohol associations or drinking outcomes; the only difference was a drop in drinking-refusal self-efficacy in one sham group.
Broken assumption
Two sessions of computerised approach-avoidance training are enough to shift implicit alcohol cognition and drinking in student drinkers.
Why
The authors conclude the training was ineffective at this dose in this population and suggest more severe populations, higher dose, combination with other treatment or more gamified tasks.
From the published paper: Lindgren et al. PLoS ONE, 2015. ↗CC BY