A teen engages with a computer game designed to shift perceptions of facial expressions, aiding in the management of irritability.

Can Computer Games Help Manage Irritability in Teens?

Lena Voss in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A new study explores how targeted computer training could offer a non-pharmaceutical solution for youth struggling with severe irritability and DMDD."

Irritability, characterized by frequent anger and reactivity, is a significant concern for many young people. Beyond just a typical mood, chronic irritability can predict long-term mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and even increased risk of suicidal thoughts. Recognizing the need for targeted interventions, researchers are exploring innovative approaches to address this critical issue.

One such approach under investigation is Interpretation Bias Training (IBT), a computer-based program designed to modify how individuals perceive ambiguous social cues. The core idea is that by reshaping negative interpretations, particularly of facial expressions, IBT can reduce reactive aggression and improve emotional regulation in youth.

A recent study protocol outlines a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of IBT in adolescents diagnosed with Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD). This trial aims to provide empirical evidence for IBT's effectiveness as a non-pharmacological treatment option, potentially augmenting existing therapies and minimizing the reliance on medication.

Decoding the IBT Approach: How Does It Work?

A teen engages with a computer game designed to shift perceptions of facial expressions, aiding in the management of irritability.

The IBT program centers around modifying interpretation biases by presenting participants with a series of face-emotion pictures, or "face morphs," that range from happy to angry. The task requires participants to quickly categorize each face as either happy or angry.

Here's how the training changes the way teens perceive emotions:

Balance Point (BP): The point at which a participant shifts from perceiving faces as happy to angry serves as a key measure of interpretation bias.
Active Training: Participants receive feedback designed to shift their BP towards happier interpretations. If they initially perceive an ambiguous face as angry, the training provides feedback encouraging a happier interpretation.
Sham Training: A control group receives feedback that doesn't encourage a shift in BP, maintaining their pre-training interpretations.
Weekly Assessments: Throughout the trial, participants undergo weekly mood ratings and BP assessments to track changes in irritability and interpretation biases.

By repeatedly providing corrective feedback, Active IBT aims to reduce the tendency to interpret ambiguous social cues as hostile, thus decreasing reactive aggression and overall irritability.

The Road Ahead: Implications and Future Research

This study holds significant promise for the treatment of irritability in youth with DMDD. The results will contribute to a better understanding of non-pharmacological interventions and potentially reduce the reliance on medication, which can have significant side effects on the developing brain.

If successful, IBT could become a readily accessible, cost-effective tool for bridging the treatment gap in mental health care. Computer-based interventions offer the advantage of being easily disseminated and can be integrated into existing treatment plans.

While this trial focuses on short-term outcomes, future research should explore the long-term effects of IBT and its potential to generalize to new social situations and stimuli. Additionally, investigating the specific mechanisms by which IBT alters brain function and behavior will provide valuable insights into the neurobiological basis of irritability and its treatment.

About this Article -

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1186/s13063-018-2960-5, Alternate LINK

Title: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial Of A Computer-Based Interpretation Bias Training For Youth With Severe Irritability: A Study Protocol

Subject: Pharmacology (medical)

Journal: Trials

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Simone P. Haller, Joel Stoddard, Caroline Macgillivray, Kelsey Stiles, Gretchen Perhamus, Ian S. Penton-Voak, Yair Bar-Haim, Marcus R. Munafò, Melissa A. Brotman

Published: 2018-11-14

Everything You Need To Know

What is Interpretation Bias Training (IBT) and how does it work to reduce irritability?

Interpretation Bias Training, or IBT, is a computer-based program designed to help modify how someone understands social cues. Specifically, it focuses on face-emotion pictures, or "face morphs," showing expressions ranging from happy to angry. The goal of IBT is to encourage happier interpretations of ambiguous facial expressions, potentially reducing reactive aggression and improving emotional regulation. It's being researched as an alternative to medication, especially for youth.

What is the significance of the 'Balance Point' (BP) in Interpretation Bias Training?

In the context of managing irritability in teens, the Balance Point (BP) is the specific point at which a participant transitions from perceiving faces as happy to perceiving them as angry. It's a key measure of how someone interprets ambiguous facial expressions. During Interpretation Bias Training (IBT), the goal is to shift a participant's BP towards happier interpretations, helping them to see faces as less angry and more friendly.

What is Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), and how is Interpretation Bias Training (IBT) being used in its treatment?

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, or DMDD, is a condition characterized by chronic, severe irritability, frequent anger, and emotional overreactions. Interpretation Bias Training (IBT) is being explored as a potential non-pharmaceutical treatment for adolescents diagnosed with DMDD. The aim is to reduce their irritability by reshaping negative interpretations of social cues, especially facial expressions.

What is the difference between 'Active Training' and 'Sham Training' in Interpretation Bias Training (IBT)?

Active Interpretation Bias Training, or Active IBT, is the part of the IBT program where participants receive feedback specifically designed to shift their Balance Point (BP) toward happier interpretations. If someone perceives an ambiguous face as angry, Active IBT provides feedback encouraging a happier interpretation. This corrective feedback aims to reduce the tendency to interpret social cues as hostile, decreasing reactive aggression and overall irritability. Sham Training, on the other hand, does not encourage a shift in BP.

What are the broader implications of using Interpretation Bias Training (IBT) for managing irritability in adolescents?

The use of Interpretation Bias Training, or IBT, to address irritability in teens suggests a move towards non-pharmacological treatments for conditions like Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD). If proven effective through ongoing research, IBT could reduce the reliance on medication, which can have significant side effects on the developing brain. Future research will likely explore the long-term effects of IBT, its effectiveness across different age groups and populations, and how it can be integrated with other therapeutic approaches.