Worry and the incubation of intrusive images following stress
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of post-event processing on intrusive images following exposure to stress. It was hypothesized that ruminative activity, especially verbal worry about a stressor leads to an incubation of intrusions. Five groups which differed in the use of post-event processing strategies were used to test for a hypothesized co-joint mechanism underlying the effect. Worrying about a stressor for a period of 4 min after exposure led to significantly more intrusions in the next 3 days than a settle-down control condition. The strategies of imaging about the stressor, distraction, and worrying about usual concerns, produced a significant incremental linear pattern of intrusions across these groups. The pattern of results was as predicted by a co-joint model in which incubation results from 'tagging' of memories and blocked emotional processing. The clinical implications of these findings are briefly discussed.
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Worrying causes an incubation of negative thought intrusions.
“Similarly, worrying causes an incubation of negative thought intrusions (Borkovec et al., 1983; Butler, Wells, & Dewick, 1995; Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995; York et al., 1987).”
From A novel theory of experiential avoidance in generalized anxiety disorder: A review and synthesis of research supporting a contrast avoidance model of worry (2011) · cites this paper as Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995
Following exposure to stress, brief periods of induced worrying have been shown to be associated with an increase in intrusive thoughts over three days.
“Following exposure to stress, brief periods of induced worrying have been shown to be associated with an increase in intrusive thoughts over three days (Butler, Wells, & Dewick, 1995;Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995).”
From Metacognitive Theory and Therapy for Worry and Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Review and Status (2010) · cites this paper as Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995
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Constructive and unconstructive repetitive thought
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“The avoidance of mental images and peripheral physiological activation leads to a decrease in emotional processing of the threatening material, which further maintains worry (Butler et al., 1995; Wells and Papageorgiou, 1995 ).”
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“Moreover, it can actually lead to more negative intrusive thoughts (e.g., Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995), and for these and other reasons people sometimes try to suppress or control their worrying (e.g., Craske, Rapee, Jackel, & Barlow, 1989).”
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“This may then lead to vigilance toward worrisome thoughts and their triggers followed by attempts at suppression, which themselves have been shown to increase cognitive intrusions (Butler et al., 1995; Clark, Ball, & Pape, 1991; Wegner, Schneider, Carter, & White, 1987; Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995).”
BackgroundRoemer, L., & Orsillo, S. M. (2002) · Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice · doi:10.1093/clipsy.9.1.54 · Cited by 545 · see citing works
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“This intriguing possibility has received support from two recent studies (see Butler, Wells, & Dewick, 1995 ; Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995 ).”
ResultEmotion dysregulation in generalized anxiety disorder: A comparison with social anxiety disorder
Turk, C. L., Heimberg, R. G., Luterek, J. A., Mennin, D. S., & Fresco, D. M. (2005) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/s10608-005-1651-1 · Cited by 443 · see citing works
“…(e.g., Foa & Kozak, 1986), the short-term avoidance provided by worry carries with it the cost of symptoms associated with inadequate emotional processing, such as more frequent intrusive images about the initial source of upset (e.g., Butler, Wells, & Dewick, 1995; Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995).”
BackgroundMethodRumination in posttraumatic stress disorder
Michael, T., Halligan, S. L., Clark, D. M., & Ehlers, A. (2007) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1002/da.20228 · Cited by 434 · see citing works
“…weakness’’) and positive (e.g., ‘‘Worrying on a negative topic reduces the likelihood of being overwhelmed if and when catastrophe strikes’’) metacognitive beliefs coexist in pathological worry and rumination [Papageorgiou and Wells, 2003; Wells and Matthews, 1994; Wells and Papageorgiou, 1995].”
BackgroundMetacognitive beliefs about rumination in recurrent major depression
Papageorgiou, C., & Adrian Wells, A. (2001) · Cognitive and Behavioral Practice · doi:10.1016/s1077-7229(01)80021-3 · Cited by 401 · see citing works
Self-citationWells, A., & Carter, K. (2001) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7894(01)80045-9 · Cited by 373 · see citing works
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“This theory is an integration of empirical evidence that worry interferes with the physiological (Borkovec & Hu, 1990) and subjective (Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995) components of the emotional response, and is consistent with evidence that worry, as a verbal-linguistic activity, is relatively…”
BackgroundFear and avoidance of internal experiences in GAD: Preliminary tests of a conceptual model
Roemer, L., Salters, K., Raffa, S. D., & Orsillo, S. M. (2005) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/s10608-005-1650-2 · Cited by 344 · see citing works
“Similarly, worrying after exposure to a gruesome film was associated with reduced anxiety initially, but significantly increased intrusions over the next few days, compared to imaginal rehearsal of the film ( Wells & Papageorgio, 1995 ).”
ResultInfluentialThe role of fear of anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty in worry: An experimental manipulation
Buhr, K., & Dugas, M. J. (2009) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2008.12.004 · Cited by 334 · see citing works
Leahy, R. L. (2002) · Cognitive and Behavioral Practice · doi:10.1016/s1077-7229(02)80048-7 · Cited by 306 · see citing works
Wells, A. (2005) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/s10608-005-1652-0 · Cited by 300 · see citing works
“In experimental studies of exposure to stress brief periods of worrying following exposure appear to increase the frequency of subsequent intrusive thoughts about the stressor over a subsequent three-day period (Butler, Wells, & Dewick, 1995; Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995 ).”
BackgroundSelf-citationHoleva, V., Tarrier, N., & Wells, A. (2001) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7894(01)80044-7 · Cited by 280 · see citing works
Self-citationGeneralized worry disorder: a review of DSM-IV generalized anxiety disorder and options for DSM-V
Andrews, G., Hobbs, M. J., Borkovec, T. D., Beesdo, K., Craske, M. G., Heimberg, R. G., Rapee, R. M., Ruscio, A. M., & Stanley, M. A. (2010) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1002/da.20658 · Cited by 273 · see citing works
“The hypothesized function of GAD patients’ verbally based cognitions is to minimize the autonomic arousal they would otherwise experience if threatening stimuli were processed in imagery.([52,53]) Borkovec proposes that these avoidant strategies are implicit, whereas others purport that worrying can be an explicit cop…”
Backgroundvan der Heiden, C., Muris, P., & van der Molen, H. T. (2012) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2011.12.005 · Cited by 265 · see citing works
Metacognition in addictive behaviors
Spada, M. M., Caselli, G., Nikčević, A. V., & Adrian Wells, A. (2014) · Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.08.002 · Cited by 273 · see citing works
Self-citationThe role of cancer worry in cancer screening: A theoretical and empirical review of the literature
Hay, J., Buckley, T. R., & Ostroff, J. (2005) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.864 · Cited by 257 · see citing works
“Experimental work indicates that active worrying may function as a way of blocking overwhelming negative affect, and thus may cause intrusive ideation (Wells and Papageorgiou, 1994).”
BackgroundAutobiographical memory for trauma: update on four controversies
Brewin, C. R. (2007) · Memory · doi:10.1080/09658210701256423 · Cited by 242 · see citing works
“One previous study (Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995) had found that post-event processing can affect the development of involuntary intrusive memories of the experience of watching a trauma film.”
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Acceptance and Mindfulness-Based Approaches to Anxiety
(2005) · Series in Anxiety and Related Disorders · doi:10.1007/b136521 · Cited by 226 · see citing works
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Self-citationThe role of avoidance of emotional material in the anxiety disorders
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Metacognitive therapy for PTSD: a preliminary investigation of a new brief treatment.
Wells, A., & Sembi, S. (2004) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2004.07.001 · Cited by 175 · see citing works
Self-citationAdrian Wells, A. (2019) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02621 · Cited by 182 · see citing works
“Subsequently, the metacognitive component of the model was elaborated as the basis for metacognitive therapy (Wells, 1995, 2000, 2009), and the model was extended with greater detail of features of its architecture and metacognitive components (especially metacognitive beliefs).”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialSelf-citationA Cognitive Model of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Wells, A. (1999) · Behavior Modification · doi:10.1177/0145445599234002 · Cited by 156 · see citing works
“Wells and Papageorgiou (1995) conducted a full-scale study replicating this effect and testing for mechanisms underlying the incubation effects of worry on intrusive images following exposure to stress.”
BackgroundSelf-citationWorry and the anxiety disorders: A meta-analytic synthesis of specificity to GAD
Olatunji, B., Wolitzky-Taylor, K. B., Sawchuk, C. N., & Ciesielski, B. G. (2010) · Applied and Preventive Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.appsy.2011.03.001 · Cited by 155 · see citing works
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“In normal subjects, Wells and Papageorgiou ( 1995 ) showed that ruminative activity following exposure to a stressor led to significantly more intrusions in the next 3 days than a settle-down control condition.”
BackgroundAdrian Wells, A. (2006) · Cognitive and Behavioral Practice · doi:10.1016/j.cbpra.2006.01.005 · Cited by 131 · see citing works
Self-citationAnxiety as an “epistemic” emotion: An uncertainty theory of anxiety
Miceli, M., & Castelfranchi, C. (2005) · Anxiety Stress & Coping · doi:10.1080/10615800500209324 · Cited by 151 · see citing works
“However, it is worth specifying that, though in the short-term the worrier obtains some spin-offs in terms of decreased emotional processing, precisely this avoidance of full emotional processing entails the maintenance and “incubation” of the threatening nature of the anxiety-arousing stimulus, and consequently of an…”
BackgroundGAD, Metacognition, and Mindfulness: An Information Processing Analysis
Wells, A. (2002) · Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice · doi:10.1093/clipsy/9.1.95 · Cited by 150 · see citing works
“7. Worrying after exposure to stress is associated with an incubation of intrusive images (Butler, Wells, & Dewick; 1995; Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995 ), and individual differences in the use of worry to control thoughts is associated with the development of post-traumatic stress disorder after trauma (Holeva, Tarrier,…”
Self-citationRoussis, P., & Wells, A. (2006) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2005.06.019 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
Self-citationAn experience sampling study of worry and rumination in psychosis
Hartley, S., Haddock, G., Vasconcelos e Sa, D., Emsley, R., & Barrowclough, C. (2014) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291713002080 · Cited by 138 · see citing works
“…Verkuil et al. 2009), misinterpretation of social interactions (Mellings & Alden, 2000; Donaldson & Lam, 2004), attempts at avoidance (Cribb et al. 2006; Moulds et al. 2007) and increased cognitive intrusions (Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995; Becker et al. 1998; Lyubomirsky et al. 2003; Watkins, 2004).”
BackgroundThe Cognitive Avoidance Theory of Worry
Sibrava, N. J., & Borkovec, T. D. (2006) · Worry and its Psychological Disorders · doi:10.1002/9780470713143.ch14 · Cited by 149 · see citing works
A Triphasic Metacognitive Formulation of Problem Drinking
Spada, M. M., Caselli, G., & Adrian Wells, A. (2012) · Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy · doi:10.1002/cpp.1791 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
Self-citationAttention, Automaticity, and Affective Disorder
Matthews, G., & Adrian Wells, A. (2000) · Behavior Modification · doi:10.1177/0145445500241004 · Cited by 130 · see citing works
“In fact, empirical studies show that worrying creates problems through maintaining preoccupation with themes of danger, preventing emotional processing of images (Borkovec & Inz, 1990), and contributing to intrusive thoughts (Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995).”
BackgroundSelf-citationThe Metacognitive Model of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Children and Adolescents
Ellis, D. M., & Hudson, J. (2010) · Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review · doi:10.1007/s10567-010-0065-0 · Cited by 123 · see citing works
“Worrying may increase negative thinking and thought intrusions and block emotional processing following stress (e.g., Borkovec et al. 1983; Wells and Carter 1999; Wells and Papageorgiou 1995 ).”
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Orsillo, S. M., Roemer, L., & Barlow, D. H. (2003) · Cognitive and Behavioral Practice · doi:10.1016/s1077-7229(03)80034-2 · Cited by 113 · see citing works
Metacognitive therapy for PTSD: A core treatment manual
Adrian Wells, A., & Sembi, S. (2004) · Cognitive and Behavioral Practice · doi:10.1016/s1077-7229(04)80053-1 · Cited by 99 · see citing works
Self-citationRumination, Depression, and Metacognition: the S‐REF Model
Matthews, G., & Wells, A. (2003) · Depressive Rumination · doi:10.1002/9780470713853.ch7 · Cited by 117 · see citing works
Zetsche, U., Ehring, T. W., & Ehlers, A. (2009) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2009.07.001 · Cited by 101 · see citing works
“This study further aimed to extend earlier findings on worry by Butler et al. (1995) and Wells and Papageorgiou (1995) by explicitly inducing traumarelated rumination.”
BackgroundResultWorry in imagery and verbal form: Effect on residual working memory capacity
Leigh, E., & Hirsch, C. R. (2010) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2010.11.005 · Cited by 101 · see citing works
“This fi nding was replicated by Wells and Papageorgiou (1995).”
MethodResultThe Metacognitions about Online Gaming Scale: Development and psychometric properties
Spada, M. M., & Caselli, G. (2015) · Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.07.007 · Cited by 100 · see citing works
“…can be defined as “stable knowledge or beliefs about one's own cognitive system, and knowledge about factors that affect the functioning of the system; the regulation and awareness of the current state of cognition, and appraisal of the significance of thought andmemories” (p.302; Wells, 1995).”
BackgroundStapinski, L. A., Abbott, M. J., & Rapee, R. M. (2010) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2010.07.005 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Does meta-cognitive theory enhance our understanding of pathological worry and anxiety?
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An Acceptance-Based Behavior Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
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“Similarly, worrying after exposure to a gruesome film reduced anxiety initially, but led to increased intrusions over the next few days, compared to imaginal rehearsal ( Wells & Papageorgio, 1995 ).”
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“…series of experimental studies showed that the induction of rumination about a traumatic film led to significantly more analogue PTSD symptoms and/ or a significantly slower recovery from the film than different control conditions (e.g., Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995; Zetsche, Ehring, & Ehlers, 2009).”
Shea, S., & Coyne, L. (2011) · Child & Family Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1080/07317107.2011.596004 · Cited by 90 · see citing works
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Self-citationSpinhoven, P., Penninx, B. W., Krempeniou, A., van Hemert, A. M., & Elzinga, B. (2015) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2015.06.004 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
“Finally, worrying about an experimental stressor for a period of 4 min after exposure led to significantly more intrusions in the next 3 days than a settle-down control condition (Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995).”
BackgroundWorry and Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Borkovec, T. D., & Newman, M. G. (1998) · Comprehensive Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1016/b0080-4270(73)00201-7 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Roussis, P., & Wells, A. (2008) · Anxiety, Stress, & Coping · doi:10.1080/10615800801889600 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
“Studies using exposure to analogue stress have demonstrated that worrying about a stressor has an incubative effect on the frequency of stress-related images over the next three days compared to a control group (Butler, Wells, & Dewick, 1995; Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995).”
Self-citationChronic PTSD Treated With Metacognitive Therapy: An Open Trial
Adrian Wells, A., Welford, M., Fraser, J., King, P., Mendel, E., Wisely, J. A., Knight, A., & Rees, D. (2008) · Cognitive and Behavioral Practice · doi:10.1016/j.cbpra.2006.11.005 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Self-citationMetacognitive Theory and Therapy for Worry and Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Review and Status
Wells, A. (2010) · Journal of Experimental Psychopathology · doi:10.5127/jep.007910 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Self-citationMatos, M., Pinto‐Gouveia, J., & Costa, V. (2011) · Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy · doi:10.1002/cpp.786 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
“In addition, several studies have now established the importance of this emotion regulatory strategy in subjects who experienced traumatic events (Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995; Michael, Halligan, Clark, & Ehlers, 2007).”
Affective neuroscience of self‐generated thought
Fox, K. C. R., Andrews‐Hanna, J. R., Mills, C., Dixon, M. L., Markovic, J., Thompson, E. T., & Kalina Christoff, A. (2018) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1111/nyas.13740 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
Mindfulness and Problem Gambling: A Review of the Literature
de Lisle, S. M., Dowling, N. A., & Allen, J. S. (2011) · Journal of Gambling Studies · doi:10.1007/s10899-011-9284-7 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
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“Further evidence comes from two experimental analogue studies using a distressing film as an analogue stressor (Butler, Wells, & Dewick, 1995; Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995).”
BackgroundWells, A., Walton, D. A., Lovell, K., & Proctor, D. (2015) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/s10608-014-9636-6 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
“The induction of worry after exposure to analogue stressors is associated with an increase in intrusive thoughts about the stressor over a subsequent 3-day period (Wells and Papageorgiou 1995) and rumination levels increase the occurrence of subsequent traumatic stress reactions after life events”
Self-citationCurci, A., & Rimé, B. (2012) · Emotion · doi:10.1037/a0028651 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Crombez, G., Eccleston, C., De Vlieger, P., Van Damme, S., & De Clercq, A. (2008) · Pain · doi:10.1016/j.pain.2007.10.028 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
“In this way worry interferes with other cognitive processes [26], and inflates the threat value of the target of worry [15].”
BackgroundAn experimental analogue study into the role of abstract thinking in trauma-related rumination
Ehring, T., Szeimies, A.-K., & Schaffrick, C. (2009) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2008.12.011 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
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“Worry has also been studied as a ruminative activity, and is considered a maladaptive attentional strategy that acts to increase or maintain anxiety (e.g., Papageorgiou & Wells, 1998; Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995 ).”
BackgroundOtto, M. W., Leyro, T. M., Christian, K., Deveney, C. M., Reese, H., Pollack, M. H., & Orr, S. P. (2007) · Behavior Modification · doi:10.1177/0145445506295054 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
“For example, worry appears to increase the number of intrusive images after the viewing of a stressful film (Butler, Wells, & Dewick, 1995; Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995), helping ensure that negative images, when confronted, are repeatedly rehearsed.”
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Buhr, K., & Dugas, M. J. (2012) · International Journal of Cognitive Therapy · doi:10.1521/ijct.2012.5.1.1 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
Parental Overprotection and Metacognitions as Predictors of Worry and Anxiety
Spada, M., Caselli, G., Manfredi, C., Rebecchi, D., Rovetto, F., Ruggiero, G. M., Nikčević, A., & Sassaroli, S. (2011) · Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy · doi:10.1017/s135246581100021x · Cited by 66 · see citing works
“In the metacognitive model of worry Wells (1995, 2000) proposes that worry is not merely a symptom of anxiety, but an active and motivated style of appraisal and coping driven by metacognitions.”
BackgroundEllard, K. K., Bernstein, E. E., Hearing, C. M., Baek, J. H., Sylvia, L. G., Nierenberg, A. A., Barlow, D. H., & Deckersbach, T. (2017) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2017.05.011 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Metacognitive beliefs about rumination in anger
Simpson, C., & Papageorgiou, C. (2003) · Cognitive and Behavioral Practice · doi:10.1016/s1077-7229(03)80012-3 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Self-citationThought Control Strategies in Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Coles, M. E., & Heimberg, R. G. (2005) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/s10608-005-1647-x · Cited by 64 · see citing works
“For example, Wells and Papageorgiou (1995) found that participants, who were instructed to worry about a stressful film for 4 min after it ended, experienced more intrusions over the following 3 days than participants who were allowed to “settle down” after the stressor.”
MethodRelationship of Worry to Immune Sequelae of the Northridge Earthquake
Segerstrom, S., Solomon, G., Kemeny, M., & Fahey, J. (1998) · Journal of behavioral medicine · doi:10.1023/a:1018732309353 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Worry and rumination: do they prolong physiological and affective recovery from stress?
Capobianco, L., Morris, J., & Adrian Wells, A. (2018) · Anxiety Stress & Coping · doi:10.1080/10615806.2018.1438723 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
“The effect of worry and rumination found in the study adds further evidence to the proposal that perseverative thinking styles following stress exposure impacts on symptoms (Nolen-Hoeksema, 1991; Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995).”
ResultSelf-citationPanayiotou, G., Karekla, M., & Mete, I. (2014) · Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science · doi:10.1016/j.jcbs.2014.07.001 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Effect of worry on regional cerebral blood flow in nonanxious subjects.
Hoehn-Saric, R., Lee, J. S., Mcleod, D., & Wong, D. (2005) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2005.05.013 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Broomfield, N., & Espie, C. (2002) · Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy · doi:10.1017/s1352465803003060 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
An Investigation of Factors Associated with Cognitive Avoidance in Worry
Sexton, K. A., & Dugas, M. J. (2009) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/s10608-007-9177-3 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
“subsequently produce an increase in the number of intrusive thoughts related to the stressor (Butler et al. 1995; Wells and Papageorgiou 1995).”
BackgroundInfluentialLuciano, J., Belloch, A., Algarabel, S., Tomás, J., Morillo, C., & Lucero, M. (2006) · European Journal of Psychological Assessment · doi:10.1027/1015-5759.22.4.250 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Imagery rescripting for recurrent, distressing images
Rusch, M. D., Grunert, B. K., Mendelsohn, R. A., & Smucker, M. R. (2000) · Cognitive and Behavioral Practice · doi:10.1016/s1077-7229(00)80028-0 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
How to suppress obsessive thoughts
Rassin, E., & Diepstraten, P. (2003) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7967(02)00043-8 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Tull, M., Hahn, K., Evans, S. D., Salters-pedneault, K., & Gratz, K. L. (2011) · Cognitive Behaviour Therapy · doi:10.1080/16506073.2010.515187 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
“…worriers endorse distraction from more emotionally distressing topics as a function of their worry (Borkovec & Roemer, 1995) and state that worry is associated with reductions in both somatic arousal (e.g. Borkovec & Hu, 1990) and subjective emotional experience (Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995).”
BackgroundNassif, Y., & Wells, A. (2014) · Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1002/jclp.22047 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Self-citationTell me more: Can a memory test reduce analogue traumatic intrusions?
Krans, J., Näring, G., Holmes, E., & Becker, E. (2009) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2009.01.009 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Schaich, A., Watkins, E. R., & Ehring, T. (2013) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2013.03.006 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
“…of studies using this paradigm, rumination and/or worry has been shown to lead to significantly more analogue PTSD symptoms and/ or a significantly slower emotional recovery from the film than the control conditions (Ball & Brewin, 2012; Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995; Zetsche, Ehring, & Ehlers, 2009).”
BackgroundLinking cognitive avoidance and GAD symptoms: The mediating role of fear of emotion.
Olatunji, B., Moretz, M. W., & Zlomke, K. (2010) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2009.11.014 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
The differential functions of imagery and verbal thought in insomnia.
Nelson, J., & Harvey, A. (2002) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/0021-843x.111.4.665 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
- Authors
- Wells, A., & Papageorgiou, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Liverpool (GB)
- Venue
- Behaviour Research and Therapy
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1995-06
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 579-583
- ISSN
- 0005-7967 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2014438097
- Cited by
- 229
- References
- 18
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 4.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Behaviour Research and Therapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Wellcome Trust
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Keywords
- intrusive memories, worry, rumination, post-event processing, stress, memory tagging, distraction
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Anxiety, Female, Humans, Imagination, Internal-External Control, Male, Middle Aged, Personality Inventory, Stress, Psychological
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