Cited by 12Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesPsychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsPsychological Treatments and Assessments

Effect of Psychotherapy on Intolerance of Uncertainty: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

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Näsling, John, Åström, Elisabeth, Jacobsson, Lars, Ljungberg, Jessica K.·2024·Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy

Abstract

Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is the tendency to react negatively on affective, cognitive and behavioural levels to uncertain situations and to harbour negative beliefs about the implications of uncertainty. IU has been linked to psychopathology and shown to impact treatment outcomes. This study systematically reviewed the literature and performed a meta‐analysis of the effects of psychotherapy on IU. A total of 22 studies (1491 participants) were identified in online searches and included in the meta‐analyses. Analyses were performed on studies with passive and active control conditions. The pooled effect on IU from studies with passive control was large (g = −0.94 [95% CI −1.25 to −0.62]) but with significant heterogeneity. Pooled effects on IU from studies with active controls were not significant. Moderator analysis showed that among studies with a passive control condition, studies that recruited participants from clinical care facilities produced smaller effect sizes. Among studies with an active control condition, study quality significantly moderated the results, with higher quality leading to a larger effect size. These results indicate that changes in IU may be difficult to reliably achieve in psychotherapy and leave many questions about the effect of psychotherapy on IU unanswered, such as what active components produced the observed changes in studies with passive control.

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  • In individualistic cultures, therapy may emphasize building self-efficacy, personal resilience, and cognitive restructuring to help individuals tolerate uncertainty without feeling a loss of control.

    “In contrast, in individualistic cultures, therapy may emphasize building self-efficacy, personal resilience, and cognitive restructuring to help individuals tolerate uncertainty without feeling a loss of control [118,202].”

    From Impact of Media-Induced Uncertainty on Mental Health: Narrative-Based Perspective. (2025) · cites this paper as [202]

    The Discussion states that cognitive restructuring has been used to facilitate changes in intolerance of uncertainty. It does not discuss individualistic cultures or say that therapy in those cultures emphasizes self-efficacy, personal resilience, or avoiding a loss of control. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  1. 800080X. · DOI
  2. Dugas, M. J., and M. Robichaud. 2007. Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: From Science to Practice. Routledge/

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Authors
Näsling, J., Åström, E., Jacobsson, L., & Ljungberg, J. K.
Affiliations
  • Luleå University of Technology (SE)
  • Umeå University (SE)
  • Lund University (SE)
Corresponding author
Näsling, John
Venue
Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2024-07
Volume
31
Issue
4
Pages
e3026-e3026
ISSN
  • 1063-3995 (ISSN-L)
  • 1099-0879
OpenAlex
W4400891108
Cited by
12
References
83
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 7
FWCI
0.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • DiVA at Umeå University (Umeå University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Lund University Publications (Lund University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
VINNOVA (2021‐02361)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
Keywords
intolerance of uncertainty, psychotherapy, treatment effects, active control, study quality, moderators, psychopathology
MeSH terms
Humans, Psychotherapy, Uncertainty

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