The effect of worrying on intolerance of uncertainty and positive and negative beliefs about worry.
Generalised anxiety disorder
Intolerance of uncertainty
Metacognitive beliefs
Negative mood
Worry
Journal
Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry
ISSN: 1873-7943
Titre abrégé: J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 0245075
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
03 2019
03 2019
Historique:
received:
12
07
2017
revised:
03
08
2018
accepted:
06
09
2018
pubmed:
22
9
2018
medline:
24
3
2020
entrez:
22
9
2018
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The effect of a worry manipulation on the clinical constructs intolerance of uncertainty (IU), negative beliefs about the consequences of worry (NCOW), positive beliefs about the consequences of worry (PCOW), in addition to the emotions anxiety and sadness, was examined. A non-clinical sample was split into two groups, a worry group (n = 29), who were asked to generate 20 potential worries about a hypothetical scenario, and a control group (n = 28), who were asked to generate 2 potential worries about the same scenario. Subsequently, participants were asked to complete measures of IU, NCOW, PCOW, sadness and anxiety. The worry group scored significantly higher than the control group on measures of IU, NCOW and PCOW but not on measures of sadness and anxiety. Possible limitations of the current study include the use of a student sample and the use of a hypothetical worry scenario. The results suggest that engaging in worry can increase scores on measures of the beliefs and thought patterns often used to causally explain worry. The results are in line with recent research showing bidirectionality between anxiety related symptoms and their associated clinical constructs, and are consistent with an approach which sees anxiety symptoms as part of an evolved integrated threat management system that alerts the individual to threats to goals or challenges, and coordinates cognitive, behavioral, and affective reactions to enable effective responding to these threats and challenges.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The effect of a worry manipulation on the clinical constructs intolerance of uncertainty (IU), negative beliefs about the consequences of worry (NCOW), positive beliefs about the consequences of worry (PCOW), in addition to the emotions anxiety and sadness, was examined.
METHODS
A non-clinical sample was split into two groups, a worry group (n = 29), who were asked to generate 20 potential worries about a hypothetical scenario, and a control group (n = 28), who were asked to generate 2 potential worries about the same scenario. Subsequently, participants were asked to complete measures of IU, NCOW, PCOW, sadness and anxiety.
RESULTS
The worry group scored significantly higher than the control group on measures of IU, NCOW and PCOW but not on measures of sadness and anxiety.
LIMITATIONS
Possible limitations of the current study include the use of a student sample and the use of a hypothetical worry scenario.
CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that engaging in worry can increase scores on measures of the beliefs and thought patterns often used to causally explain worry. The results are in line with recent research showing bidirectionality between anxiety related symptoms and their associated clinical constructs, and are consistent with an approach which sees anxiety symptoms as part of an evolved integrated threat management system that alerts the individual to threats to goals or challenges, and coordinates cognitive, behavioral, and affective reactions to enable effective responding to these threats and challenges.
Identifiants
pubmed: 30236643
pii: S0005-7916(17)30152-0
doi: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2018.09.002
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
65-71Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.