Main findings
Our aim was to test whether changes in psychological and cognitive functions explain the effect of an intervention that combines UCT and CBT on ASB. There was a positive effect of CT and CBT on time preferences, but none of the cognitive functions mediated the effect of the intervention on ASB. Our results suggest that the effect of the combination of CBT with UCT on ASB does not seem to be caused by improved executive function, self-control, or time preferences, and raise important questions about what other mechanisms may be at play to explain the strong effect of the intervention on ASB.