The effects of cognitive defusion and thought distraction on emotional discomfort and believability of negative self-referential thoughts.
Previous research has shown that rapid vocal repetition of a one-word version of negative self-referential thought reduces the stimulus functions (e.g., emotional discomfort and believability) associated with that thought. The present study compares the effects of that defusion strategy with thought distraction and distraction-based experimental control tasks on a negative self-referential thought. Non-clinical undergraduates were randomly assigned to one of three protocols. The cognitive defusion condition reduced the emotional discomfort and believability of negative self-referential thoughts significantly greater than comparison conditions. Favorable results were also found for the defusion technique with participants with elevated depressive symptoms.
Masuda
Akihiko
A
Georgia State University, Atlanta, 30302-5010, USA. psyaxm@langate.gsu.edu
Twohig
Michael P
MP
Stormo
Analia R
AR
Feinstein
Amanda B
AB
Chou
Ying-Yi
YY
Wendell
Johanna W
JW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000209:etiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D003469:Culture; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012649:Self Concept; D013850:Thinking / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult