the role of systematic processing in worry
DESCRIPTION
MARS Mood and Anxiety Research in Sussex. Dr Suzanne Dash [email protected]. The role of systematic processing in worry. Outline. Worry Heuristic Systematic Model What is systematic processing? When does it happen? Why might worriers systematically process? Clinical Implications - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The role of systematic processing in worry
Dr Suzanne [email protected]
MARSMood and Anxiety Research in Sussex
Outline Worry
Heuristic Systematic Model What is systematic processing? When does it happen?
Why might worriers systematically process?
Clinical Implications
Conclusions
Worry “ a chain of thoughts and images, negatively affect-
laden and relatively uncontrollable” (Borkovec et al., 1983, p.10)
Catastrophising (Davey & Levy, 1998a)
Themes of personal inadequacy (Davey & Levy, 1998b)
Why worry about worry? Generalized Anxiety Disorder (APA, DSM-IV-TR, 4th ed, 2000)
Social anxiety (Purdon & Harrington, 2006) Panic disorder (Purdon & Harrington, 2006)
Hypochondriasis (Purdon & Harrington, 2006) OCD checking and doubting (Tallis & DeSilva, 1992)
Psychosis (Startup, Freeman & Garety, 2007)
Mechanisms of worry Negative mood Intolerance of uncertainty Problem-solving confidence
Q. How do these variables increase worry?A.(???) Alter the way we process information
Increase worry perseveration
Dual process models of information processing
17 × 24
Dual process models of information processing
17 × 24
Why might worriers be using systematic processing (SP)?1. SP: detailed, analytical processing
Worry: persistent, detailed processing
2. Worry and SP arise through unconscious/non-deliberative means
3. SP deployed when confidence is unsatisfactoryWorriers strive to feel prepared, consider all possible negative outcomes, feel confident that they can cope
4. Influenced by similar cognitive appraisals and cognitive states
5. Similar functional neuroanatomy
Heuristic Systematic Model Systematic processing
“An analytic orientation in which perceivers access
and scrutinize all informational input for its
relevance and importance... and integrate all useful
information in forming their judgements”
(Chaiken et al., 1989, p. 212)
The sufficiency threshold
Q. How much processing do I need to do to be confident in my judgement?
Lots, I need to be very confident
Not much, I don’t need to be that confident
Systematic processing
Heuristic processing
The sufficiency threshold
Systematic processing
Heuristic processing
Trivial task
Maheswaran & Chaiken (1991)
The sufficiency threshold
Systematic processing
Heuristic processing
Important task
Maheswaran & Chaiken (1991)
The sufficiency threshold
Q. How much processing do I need to do to be confident in my judgement?
DesiredActual
Raised sufficiency thresholds
Construct/Appraisal
Definition Systematic processing
worry
Accountability Pressure to justify one’s opinions (Erb et al., 2007; Livingston & Sinclair, 2008)
Livingston & Sinclair (2008); Tetlock (1983)
Brain et al. (2008); Sweet & Pelton-Sweet (2008)
Responsibility “one has power which is pivotal to bring about or prevent subjectively crucial negative outcomes” (Salkovskis et al., 1992)
Bohner et al.. (1995); Uleman (1989)
Startup & Davey (2003)
Need for cognition
“a need to structure relevant situations in meaningful, integrated ways” (Cohen et al., 1955, p. 21)
Batra & Stayman (1990); Cacioppo et al. (1983)
Davey, Tallis et al. (1996); Startup & Davey (2001)
Desire for Control
Motive to control events in one’s life
Swann et al. (1981) Borkovec (1994)
Negative Mood
Construct/Appraisal
Definition Systematic processing
worry
Negative Mood
“a dimension of subjective distress and unpleasurable engagement” (Watson et al., 1988, p.1063)
Ambady & Gray (2002); Bodenhausen et al. (1994); Bohner et al. (1998); Tiedens & Linton (2001)
Johnston & Davey (1997); Startup & Davey (2001)
Worriers experience greater endemic negative affect(Davey, Hampton, Farrell, & Davidson, 1992; Meyer, Miller, Metzger, & Borkovec, 1990; Tallis, Eysenck,
& Mathews, 1991; Metzger, Miller, Cohen, Sofka, & Borkovec, 1990; Wisocki, Handen & Morse,
1986)
Dash & Davey (2012)
Negative mood
Sufficiency
threshold
Worry (PSWQ)
Unmediated: b = 8.21, p = .01Mediated: b = 4.13, p = .12
High intolerance of uncertainty Correlates with trait worry (Buhr & Dugas, 2006) Causes worry (Meeten et al. 2012)
Drives ‘what if...?’ thinking Seek more information before decision-making (Carleton et al.,
2007) Is associated with desire for control
OCD (Moulding & Kyrios, 2007) Anorexia nervosa (Sternheim et al., 2011)
DesiredIU increases desired confidence
Low problem-solving confidence Correlates with worry (Belzer et al., 2002; Davey, 1994; Davey & Levy, 1998a) Causes worry (Davey, Jubb & Cameron, 1996)
Deplete confidence that goals are met for worry Low PSC increases uncertainty (Tormala et al., 2008)
detailed processing (e.g. Weary & Jacobson, 1997)
Actual
Low PSC decreases actual confidence
Summary Raised sufficiency thresholds
Experience negative mood Intolerant of uncertainty Discrepancy between desired confidence and actual
confidence Feel accountable and responsible Desire control of, and have a high need for cognition about,
worry-related cognitions
Clinical Implications Socialisation to two processing modes allows dialogue of
when it is useful to deploy effortful processing, and when it is unnecessary
Attention should be paid to appraisals that raise sufficiency thresholds Responsibility, accountability, desire for control
Hirsch & Mathews – top-down and bottom-up processes – most effective treatments may tackle both. Combine with cognitive bias modification?
Treat comorbid low mood
Conclusions Worry occurs across a range of psychopathologies, as well as in
the general population
Key dispositional factors exhibited by worriers – low PSC, IU and negative mood – are all likely to widen the gap between actual and desired confidence – raising the sufficiency threshold
Worriers will deploy systematic processing in an attempt to meet their sufficiency threshold
Clinical implications include challenging appraisals that raise sufficiency thresholds in conjunction with targeting heuristic processes
Collaborators and funding
Professor Graham Davey
Dr Frances Meeten
Graduate Teaching Assistantship