Verbal Repetition in the Reappraisal of Contamination-Related Thoughts

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a therapeutic approach that emphasizes the alteration of the relationship one has towards one’s thoughts, rather than attempting to change the content of thoughts. It seeks to promote the awareness of thinking as an ongoing relational process through cognitive defusion techniques. The verbal repetition of thoughts is a technique that has recently been shown in a single-case alternating treatment designs study to significantly reduce the believability and distress associated with self-relevant negative thoughts (Masuda, Hayes, Sackett, & Twohig, 2004). The present study compared the effects of verbal repetition with brief imaginal exposure and no intervention in reducing the believability, distress, and meaningfulness associated with contamination-related thoughts. Individuals with high levels of obsessive-compulsive symptoms identified three distressing contamination-related thoughts and made ratings of belief, distress, and meaningfulness for each thought, using 100-mm visual analogue scales. They were then randomly assigned to receive verbal repetition, imaginal exposure, or no intervention, after which they completed ratings at post-intervention and one-week follow-up. Participants also completed a category membership decision task to determine whether verbal repetition and/or imaginal exposure produces semantic satiation, a temporary loss of the literal meaning of words. Significant reductions in belief, distress, and meaningfulness were observed following verbal repetition at post-intervention and there was some maintenance of these gains one week later. In contrast, no significant reductions were observed at post-intervention following either imaginal exposure or no intervention. However, significant reductions in ratings of belief and distress were observed one week later following imaginal exposure. A semantic satiation effect was observed for only verbal repetition, and although there was no evidence that this effect was associated with reductions in appraisal ratings at post-intervention, there was some indication of a relationship with follow-up appraisal ratings. Implications of these findings are discussed in relation to cognitive-behavioural theories of obsessive-compulsive disorder

Comparing the effectiveness of thought suppression and cognitive defusion in managing obsessional intrusive thoughts

Background: Cognitive defusion is a core therapeutic process in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT helps clients distance themselves from cognitive content that functions as a barrier to pursuing valued behavioural directions. This systematic review focuses on cognitive defusion techniques that use deliteralisation to try to reduce the literal quality of thoughts and help individuals see them as just thoughts rather than absolute truths. Aims: To synthesise experimental findings regarding the effects of cognitive defusion on distress and believability in experimental laboratory-based component studies. Method: A systematic literature search was conducted in June 2013 using CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases to identify relevant studies. Results: Nine studies met inclusion criteria for review. The majority of studies (i.e. 7) were rated “moderate” in quality, the remaining two were rated “good” and “low”. Cognitive defusion was generally shown to produce superior results to distraction, imaginal exposure, and control conditions, and similar results to cognitive restructuring and thought suppression. The studies reviewed also reported findings about potential moderator variables, namely the use of experiential exercises and the duration of cognitive defusion techniques. Conclusions: Given the promising findings in relation to cognitive defusion and the dearth of research in this area, it would seem that further research into this therapeutic technique is warranted

Defusión Cognitiva como Ejercicio Verbal: un Enfoque Experimental

Background: As one of the founding principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), cognitive defusion is a contextual control of language, but it is not clear which behavioural process would allow such defusion. Two experiments are presented which analyse that process using a word repetition exercise. Method: Experiment 1 was performed with 30 randomised participants, using a factorial between-groups (4x2) with repeated measures design: Group 1 = milk-milk-milk exercise; 2 = emotional word repetition; 3 = milk-to-emotional word shaping; and 4 = control without intervention. Questionnaires were applied on thoughts, emotional regulation, and experiential avoidance, in addition to the evaluation of 20 images suggesting emotions. In Experiment 2, 78 participants were randomised using the same 4x2 design, and also 60 images with a proven emotional reactivity were used. Results: Experiment 1 did not show changes in any of the variables, nor a decrease in emotional assessment, which should occur according to the theory behind ACT. In Experiment 2, no significant changes between the groups and no pre-post changes appeared, except in latency time. Conclusions: The lack of replication of the defusion process is discussed, along with the mixed results of other studies.Antecedentes: desde la Terapia de Aceptación y Compromiso (ACT), la defusión cognitiva es un proceso de control contextual del lenguaje, aunque no está claro cuál sería el proceso conductual de esa defusión. Se presentan dos experimentos analizando ese proceso mediante un ejercicio de repetición de palabras. Método: el primer experimento se realizó con 30 participantes aleatorizados, con un diseño factorial entre-grupos con medidas repetidas (4x2): Grupo 1 = ejercicio leche-leche; 2 = repetición de palabra emocional; 3 = moldeamiento leche-palabra emocional; y 4 = control. Se han utilizado cuestionarios sobre pensamientos, regulación emocional y evitación experiencial, junto con la valoración de 20 imágenes que sugerían emociones. En el segundo experimento se aleatorizaron 78 participantes con el mismo diseño 4x2, y se utilizaron 60 imágenes con una reactividad emocional ya comprobada. Resultados: en el primer experimento no hubo cambios en ninguna de las variables, ni la disminución de la valoración emocional que debería producirse según la teoría de ACT. Tampoco en el segundo experimento aparecieron cambios significativos entre los grupos, ni pre-post, excepto en el tiempo de latencia. Conclusiones: se discute la falta de replicación del proceso de defusión que defiende ACT, siguiendo también los resultados dispares de otros estudios

Aggression: Its association with dysfunctional thought control processes, cognition, and personality

Het hebben van agressieve fantasieën is zo gek nog niet. Marleen Nagtegaal onderzocht vrouwelijke en mannelijke studenten, mannelijke leden van een schietsportvereniging, mannelijke gedetineerden en deelnemers aan controlegroepen. Iedereen heeft agressieve fantasieën. Of ze ook omslaan in agressief gedrag, hangt af van wat er met de gedachten wordt gedaan: worden ze onderdrukt of wordt er bijvoorbeeld over gepraat? Nagtegaal promoveert vrijdag 29 februari 2008 aan de Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam. Het hebben van agressieve fantasieën an sich doet er niet zo toe, aldus Marleen Nagtegaal. Het komt immers bij iedereen voor. Het is belangrijker wat je vervolgens doet met deze gedachten. Als je afleiding zoekt voor het hebben van agressieve fantasieën of als je hierover praat, heb je minder kans agressief gedrag te vertonen. Probeer je de gedachten te onderdrukken, bestraf je jezelf of ga je over zo’n gedachte piekeren, dan is de kans groter dat je agressief gedrag gaat vertonen

The Relationship between Psychophysical Acting Techniques and the Representation of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder on Stage

This thesis examines the relationship between psychophysical performance techniques and their ability to support the actor when portraying characters with obsessive-compulsive variants. By using three practical case studies, this research will examine specific techniques which can develop the work of the performer in both rehearsal and performance. It will also identify key areas where new working methods must be developed. This practice-based research is conducted across three distinct theatrical platforms, ensemble theatre, multimedia new writing and solo verbatim, and allows the research to build and develop project to project. Medical research into obsessive-compulsive disorder will underpin the practical psychophysical findings and will challenge current psychophysical thought into holistic practices, inner monologue and difference & repetition in thought and movement

Redefining Situation Schema Under Chronic Stress: A Mixed Methods Construct Validation of Positive Cognitive Shift

abstract: Cognitive reappraisal, or redefining the meaning of a stressful circumstance, is useful in regulating emotional responses to acute stressors and may be mobilized to up- or down- regulate the stressors’ emotional salience. A conceptually-related but more targeted emotion regulation strategy to that offered by cognitive reappraisal, termed positive cognitive shift, was examined in the current study. Positive cognitive shift (“PCS”) is defined as a point of cognitive transformation during a chronic, stressful situation that alters the meaning and emotional salience of the situation for the individual. Key aspects of the PCS that differentiate it from the broader reappraisal construct are that it 1) is relevant to responses to chronic (versus acute) aversive events, 2) is deployed when there is a mismatch between coping and stressors, and 3) involves insight together with redefinition in meaning of the situation generating stress. The current study used qualitative and quantitative analyses to 1) examine whether PCS is an observable, reliable, and valid experience in response to a stressful event that occurred in the past year, and 2) test whether PCS moderates the relations between the number of past-year stressful life circumstances and subsequent emotional well-being and functional health. A community sample of 175 middle-aged individuals were interviewed regarded a past chronic stressor and completed questionnaires regarding number of past year stressors and health outcomes. Theory-based coding of interviews was conducted to derive reliable scores for PCS, and findings indicated that PCS was evident in 37.7 % of participant responses. Furthermore, PCS scores were related positively to openness, personal growth from one’s most difficult lifetime event, and affect intensity-calm, in line with predictions. Also in line with prediction, PCS moderated the relations between number of past-year life events and health outcomes, such that the deleterious relations between past year stressful events and cognitive functioning, wellbeing, positive affect, and negative affect were weaker among individuals higher versus lower in PCS. Of note, PCS moderation effects diminished as the number of stressful events increased.Dissertation/ThesisDoctoral Dissertation Psychology 201