nach oben

Cognitive Therapy and Research

Erschienen in:

01.12.2012 | Brief Report

Concreteness of Idiographic Periods of Worry and Depressive Rumination

verfasst von: Michelle Goldwin, Evelyn Behar

Erschienen in: Cognitive Therapy and Research | Ausgabe 6/2012

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Abstract

Stöber (Behav Res Ther 36:751–756, 1998) asserts that worry is characterized by reduced concreteness of thought that interferes with successful emotional processing via reduction of imagery. Extant research has not examined concreteness of thought during a period of idiographic worry, nor has it directly compared concreteness during worrisome thinking to concreteness during other types of repetitive negative thinking such as depressive rumination. We sought to test Stöber’s theory as it relates to idiographic periods of worry, and further examined its applicability to periods of depressive rumination. Consistent with Stöber’s theory, we found that worry and depressive rumination were significantly and non-differentially more abstract than was baseline mentation. Contrary to Stöber’s theory, concreteness of thought was not related to degree of reported imagery during either worry or depressive rumination. Theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Because participants handwrote their thought samples, some thought samples were illegible and thus were unable to be coded. As a result, a total of 215 thought samples and their respective concreteness ratings are missing from the data.

Due to a clerical error, there was a slight difference in the definitions we provided for worry and depressive rumination. We defined worry as involving either “thoughts or images” but depressive rumination as involving only “thoughts.” Despite mentioning images in the definition of worry, worry was characterized by less imagery-based activity than was depressive rumination, which replicated findings from McLaughlin et al. (2007) indicating that worry is characterized by higher levels of verbal-linguistic activity. Furthermore, previous studies that have found cyclical alternations of hypervigilance to threat followed by avoidance of threat have involved both verbal and pictoral stimuli (Mogg et al. 2004; Oathes et al. 2011). However, we cannot rule out the possibility that the inadvertent difference in the mention of imagery activity could account for differential findings regarding worry and depressive rumination.

We aimed to differentiate depressive rumination from trauma-recall, which is another type of repetitive thinking with its own unique characteristics (see Behar et al. 2005).

Although imagery can also involve auditory, kinaesthetic and gustatory modalities, our study focused on visual imagery to remain consistent with other studies exploring the verbal-linguistic versus imagery-based nature of repetitive thinking (e.g., Behar et al. 2005; McLaughlin et al. 2007).

For this and all subsequent analyses, we first ran a 2 (Order: worry first, depressive rumination first) × 3 (Induction) × 4 (Phase) mixed model ANOVA, but in no case was there a significant effect involving Order. Therefore, all dependent variables were collapsed across Order. All data are available from the first author upon request.

Participants also rated the percentage of time they noticed something in their mind other than thoughts or images (‘neither’). We initially ran a 3 (Induction) × 4 (Phase) repeated measures ANOVA on the mean percentage of ‘neither’ ratings. Results indicated that there were no significant effects of Induction or Phase. Due to (a) the relatively low frequency of this type of mentation (6.62–9.28%) and (b) our inability to interpret these results or speculate regarding the type of cognitive activity participants were experiencing, we have omitted the ‘neither’ mentation ratings from subsequent analyses. These data are available from the first author upon request.

Barnhofer, T., Crane, C., Hargus, E., Amarasinghe, M., Winder, R., & Williams, J. M. (2009). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy as a treatment for chronic depression: A preliminary study. Behavior Therapy and Research, 47, 366–373.CrossRef

Beck, A. T. (1976). Cognitive therapy and emotional disorders. New York: Meridian.

Behar, E., McGowan, S. K., McLaughlin, K. A., Goldwin, M., Bjorkquist, O., & Borkovec, T. D. (in press). Concreteness of positive, negative, and neutral repetitive thinking about the future. Behavior Therapy.

Behar, E., Zuellig, A. R., & Borkovec, T. D. (2005). Thought and imaginal activity during worry and trauma recall. Behavior Therapy, 36, 157–168.CrossRef

Blagden, J. C., & Craske, M. G. (1996). Effects of active and passive rumination and distraction: A pilot replication with anxious mood. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 10, 243–252.CrossRef

Borkovec, T. D., Alcaine, O., & Behar, E. (2004). Avoidance theory of worry and generalized anxiety disorder. In R. G. Heimberg, C. L. Turk, & D. S. Mennin (Eds.), Generalized anxiety disorder: Advances in research and practice (pp. 77–108). New York: Guilford Press.

Borkovec, T. D., & Inz, J. (1990). The nature of worry in generalized anxiety disorder: A predominance of thought activity. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 28, 153–158.PubMedCrossRef

Borkovec, T. D., & Sharpless, B. (2004). Generalized anxiety disorder: Bringing cognitive behavioral therapy into the valued present. In S. Hayes, V. Follette, & M. Linehan (Eds.), New directions in behavior therapy (pp. 209–242). New York: Guilford Press.

Carver, C. S., & Ganellen, R. J. (1983). Depression and components of self-punitiveness: High standards, self-criticism, and overgeneralization. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 92, 330–337.PubMedCrossRef

Ehring, T., & Watkins, E. R. (2008). Repetitive negative thinking as a transdiagnostic process. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 1, 192–205.CrossRef

Foa, E. B., & Kozak, M. J. (1986). Emotional processing of fear: Exposure to corrective information. Psychological Bulletin, 99, 20–35.PubMedCrossRef

Freeston, M. H., Dugas, M. J., & Ladouceur, R. (1996). Thoughts, images, worry, and anxiety. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 20, 265–273.CrossRef

Ganellen, R. J. (1988). Specificity of attributions and overgeneralization in depression and anxiety. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 97, 83–86.PubMedCrossRef

Harvey, A. G., Watkins, E., Mansell, W., & Shafran, R. (2004). Cognitive behavioural processes across psychological disorders. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Hayes, A. M., & Feldman, G. (2004). Clarifying the construct of mindfulness in the context of emotion regulation and the process of change in therapy. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 11, 255–262.CrossRef

Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Mindfulness meditation for everyday life. London: Piatkus.

Mathews, A. (1990). Why worry? The cognitive function of anxiety. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 28, 455–468.PubMedCrossRef

McLaughlin, K. A., Borkovec, T. D., & Sibrava, N. J. (2007). The effects of worry and rumination on affect states and cognitive activity. Behavior Therapy, 38, 23–38.PubMedCrossRef

Mogg, K., Bradley, B. P., Miles, F., & Dixon, R. (2004). Time course of attentional bias for threat scenes: Testing the vigilance-avoidance hypothesis. Cognition and Emotion, 18, 689–700.CrossRef

Mor, N., & Winquist, J. (2002). Self-focused attention and negative affect: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 128, 638–662.PubMedCrossRef

Oathes, D. J., Siegle, G. J., & Ray, W. J. (2011). Chronic worry and the temporal dynamics of emotional processing. Emotion, 11, 101–114.PubMedCrossRef

Paivio, A., & Marschark, M. (1991). Integrative processing of concrete and abstract sentences. In A. Paivio (Ed.), Images in the mind: The evolution of a theory (pp. 134–154). New York: Harvester Wheatsheaf.

Rimes, K. A., & Watkins, E. (2005). The effects of self-focused rumination on global negative self-judgments in depression. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 43, 1673–1681.PubMedCrossRef

Roemer, L., Orsillo, S. M., & Salters-Pedneault, K. (2008). Efficacy of an acceptance-based behavior therapy for generalized anxiety disorder: Evaluation in a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76(6), 1083–1089.PubMedCrossRef

Segerstrom, S. C., Tsao, J. C. I., Alden, L. E., & Craske, M. G. (2000). Worry and rumination: Repetitive thought as a concomitant and predictor of negative mood. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 24, 671–688.CrossRef

Stöber, J. (1996). Besorgnis und Besorgtheit: Untersuchungen ¨uber Problemr¨aume, deren Strukturierung und Elaboration [Worry and worrying: Investigations of problem spaces, their structuring and elaboration]. Frankfurt/M., Germany: Lang.

Stöber, J. (1998). Worry, problem solving, and suppression of imagery: The role of concreteness. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 36, 751–756.PubMedCrossRef

Stöber, J., & Borkovec, T. D. (2002). Reduced concreteness of worry in generalized anxiety disorder: Findings from a therapy study. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 26, 89–96.CrossRef

Stöber, J., Tepperwien, S., & Staak, M. (2000). Worrying leads to reduced concreteness of problem elaborations: Evidence for the avoidance theory of worry. Anxiety, Stress, and Coping, 13, 217–227.

Trope, Y., & Liberman, N. (2003). Temporal construal. Psychological Review, 110, 403–421.PubMedCrossRef

Vallacher, R. R., & Wegner, D. M. (1987). What do people think they’re doing? Action identification and human behavior. Psychological Review, 94, 3–15.CrossRef

Watkins, E. (2004). Adaptive and maladaptive ruminative self-focus during emotional processing. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 42, 1037–1052.PubMedCrossRef

Watkins, E. R. (2008). Constructive and unconstructive repetitive thought. Psychological Bulletin, 134, 163–206.PubMedCrossRef

Watkins, E. R., Baeyens, C. S., & Read, R. J. (2009). Concreteness training reduces dysphoria: Proof-of -principle for repeated cognitive bias modification in depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 118, 55–64.PubMedCrossRef

Watkins, E., Moberly, N. J., & Moulds, M. L. (2008). Processing mode causally influences emotional reactivity: Distinct effects of abstract versus concrete construal on emotional response. Emotion, 8, 364–378.PubMedCrossRef

Watkins, E., & Moulds, M. L. (2007). Reduced concreteness of rumination in depression: A pilot study. Personality and Individual Differences, 43, 1386–1395.CrossRef

Watkins, E., & Teasdale, J. D. (2001). Rumination and overgeneral memory in depression: Effects of self-focus and analytic thinking. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 110, 353–357.PubMedCrossRef

Watkins, E., & Teasdale, J. D. (2004). Adaptive and maladaptive self-focus in depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 82, 1–8.PubMedCrossRef

Titel: Concreteness of Idiographic Periods of Worry and Depressive Rumination
verfasst von: Michelle Goldwin
Evelyn Behar
Publikationsdatum: 01.12.2012
Verlag: Springer US
Erschienen in: Cognitive Therapy and Research / Ausgabe 6/2012
Print ISSN: 0147-5916
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-2819
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-011-9428-1

Neu im Fachgebiet Psychiatrie

Demenzkranke durch Antipsychotika vielfach gefährdet

23.04.2024 Demenz Nachrichten

Wenn Demenzkranke aufgrund von Symptomen wie Agitation oder Aggressivität mit Antipsychotika behandelt werden, sind damit offenbar noch mehr Risiken verbunden als bislang angenommen.

Weniger postpartale Depressionen nach Esketamin-Einmalgabe

23.04.2024 Depression antepartal oder postpartal Nachrichten

Bislang gibt es kein Medikament zur Prävention von Wochenbettdepressionen. Das Injektionsanästhetikum Esketamin könnte womöglich diese Lücke füllen.

„Psychotherapie ist auch bei sehr alten Menschen hochwirksam!“

22.04.2024 DGIM 2024 Kongressbericht

Die Kombination aus Medikamenten und Psychotherapie gilt als effektivster Ansatz bei Depressionen. Das ist bei betagten Menschen nicht anders, trotz Besonderheiten.

Auf diese Krankheiten bei Geflüchteten sollten Sie vorbereitet sein

22.04.2024 DGIM 2024 Nachrichten

Um Menschen nach der Flucht aus einem Krisengebiet bestmöglich medizinisch betreuen zu können, ist es gut zu wissen, welche Erkrankungen im jeweiligen Herkunftsland häufig sind. Dabei hilft eine Internetseite der CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

Update Psychiatrie

Bestellen Sie unseren Fach-Newsletter und bleiben Sie gut informiert.

Newsletter bestellen

Springer Medizin

Abstract

Bitte loggen Sie sich ein, um Zugang zu diesem Inhalt zu erhalten

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 6/2012

Perceived Stress, Anhedonia and Illusion of Control: Evidence for Two Mediational Models

Emotion Dysregulation and Vulnerability to Suicidal Ideation and Attempts

Childhood Exposure to Parental Threatening Behaviors and Anxiety Symptoms in a Community Sample of Young Adults: The Mediating Role of Cognitive Biases

Nonclinical Panic Attack History and Anxiety Sensitivity: Testing the Differential Moderating Role of Self-Report and Behavioral Indices of Distress Tolerance