Relationships between Rational beliefs and anxiety

The relationships between rationality, as measured by the recently developed Rational Behavior Inventory (RBI), and several commonly used measures of anxiety are examined in both a general student sample (N = 144) and a clinically tested anxious sample (N = 34). Although differing aspects of rationality were related to anxiety for the two groups, consistent negative correlations were found between specific irrational beliefs and measures of test, state, and trait anxiety. The observed relationships of decreased rationality associated with increased levels of anxiety lend support to the theoretical basis of cognitive restructuring forms of therapy, and to the concurrent validity of the RBI.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44343/1/10608_2005_Article_BF01183895.pd

Terapia cognitiva : aplicações de uma técnica para qualidade de vida e saúde

Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo geral aplicar e avaliar uma técnica específica de terapia cognitiva - organizada em 12 sessões grupais e denominada Tomada de Decisão e Qualidade de Vida -, destinada a promover saúde e incrementar qualidade de vida. No total, participaram 18 servidores de uma instituição pública de ensino superior. Nas etapas de admissão e de encerramento, aplicaram-se : Questionário de Qualidade de Vida, Inventário Beck de Ansiedade e Inventário Beck de Depressão. Foram identificadas melhoras significativas nos domínios físico, psicológico, meio ambiente, geral e saúde, relacionados à qualidade de vida. Não se verificaram alterações significantes nos escores de ansiedade (p=0,26). Em contrapartida, os escores de depressão indicaram melhora (p=0,02). Os resultados sugerem que a técnica pode ser empregada para promover saúde e qualidade de vida.In this study we implemented and assessed a specific cognitive therapy technique - Decision Making and Quality of Life, which is used to promote health and improve quality of life. Eighteen employees from a higher education institution participated in the study, which was organized into 12 group sessions. At the admission and concluding phases, we asked participants to complete the World Health Organization Quality of Life - Bref Questionnaire, the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory. Results showed significant improvement in five of the domains that measure quality of life: physical, psychological, environmental, general, and health. There were no significant changes (p=0.26) in anxiety scores. In contrast, the depression scores got significantly better (p=0.02). The results suggest that the proposed technique is conducive to health promotion and quality of life

Irrational beliefs and the anxiety disorders

This study investigated the levels of irrationality reported by a clinical sample of anxiety disorder patients, including simple and social phobics, panic disorder patients, agoraphobics, and obssessive compulsive patients. The levels of irrationality were compared between these groups and a group of normal control subjects, using the Rational Behavior Inventory (RBI). Agoraphobic patients were significantly less rational than control subjects on six of the RBI's subfactors and the total score of the Inventory. Patients in all diagnostic categories except simple phobia were significantly different from control subjects on the projected misfortune subfactor, and patients in all categories except simple phobia and panic disorder were significantly different from controls on the total RBI score. There were only four instances where patients in anxiety disorder categories significantly differed from each other in levels of irrationality. The implications of these findings, methodological limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43981/1/10942_2005_Article_BF01076187.pd

Cognitive-Behavioural Treatment of Musical Performance Anxiety

This pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of a treatment approach for musical performance anxiety that combined progressive muscle relaxation, cognitive therapy, and temperature biofeedback training. Twelve competent pianists who complained of debilitating performance anxiety were randomly assigned to a treatment group; and eight subjects were placed on a wait-list control group. Following a six-week programme of group therapy, signifi- cant differences between pre- and post-measurements were observed for the treatment group in performance anxiety, and trait anxiety. The results suggest that it is possible to lower debilitating stage fright in performance- anxious musicians through a cognitive-behavioural treatment approach.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69063/2/10.1177_0305735689171002.pd