Maladaptive repetitive thought as a transdiagnostic phenomenon and treatment target: An integrative review
Abstract
Objective: Maladaptive repetitive thought (RT), the frequent and repetitive revisiting of thoughts or internal experiences, is associated with a range of psychopathological processes and disorders. We present a synthesis of prior research on maladaptive RT and develop a framework for elucidating and distinguishing between five forms of maladaptive RT. Method: In addition to the previously studied maladaptive RT (worry, rumination, and obsession), this framework is used to identify two additional forms of maladaptive RT (yearning and interoceptive RT). We then present a review of extant psychotherapy intervention research targeting maladaptive RT, focusing both on specific empirically based treatment strategies, and also constructs within treatments that impact maladaptive RT. Conclusion: The paper concludes with recommendations for future basic and intervention research on maladaptive RT and related psychopathologies.
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Repetitive negative thinking (i.e. rumination and worry) is a characteristic feature of IDs.
“Repetitive negative thinking (i.e. rumination and worry) is a characteristic feature of IDs [278–280].”
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Yearning predicts subgenual anterior cingulate activity in bereaved individuals
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“For one, both rumination and yearning (in the context of grief), are experienced as uncontrollable, have a negative valence and are selffocused (Kaplan et al., 2018).”
BackgroundSelf-citationPerez, T. M., Glue, P., Adhia, D. B., Navid, M. S., Zeng, J., Dillingham, P., Smith, M., Niazi, I. K., Young, C. K., & De Ridder, D. (2022) · Trials · doi:10.1186/s13063-022-06863-z · Cited by 8 · see citing works
- Authors
- Kaplan, D. M., Palitsky, R., Carey, A. L., Crane, T. E., Havens, C. M., Medrano, M. R., Reznik, S. J., Sbarra, D. A., & O'Connor, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Arizona (US)
- Corresponding author
- O'Connor, Mary‐Frances
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Clinical Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2018-01-17
- Volume
- 74
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 1126-1136
- ISSN
- 0021-9762 (ISSN-L)
- 1097-4679
- OpenAlex
- W2790152662
- Cited by
- 76
- References
- 62
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3
- FWCI
- 1.08
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Keywords
- transdiagnostic mechanisms, worry, rumination, obsession, longing, psychotherapeutic interventions, treatment goals, psychopathology
- MeSH terms
- Rumination, Cognitive, Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Humans, Male, Psychotherapy
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