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Cited by 16Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesObsessive-Compulsive Spectrum DisordersMindfulness and Compassion Interventions

Verbal repetition in the reappraisal of contamination-related thoughts

Watson, Chris, Burley, Madelaine C., Purdon, Christine·2010·Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
DOI 10.1017/s1352465810000196
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy advocates use of cognitive defusion techniques to reduce the distress evoked by negative thoughts, including verbal repetition (VR). In VR, a negative word is repeated until its semantic meaning is diluted (i.e. until semantic satiation is achieved). The present two studies examined whether VR is more effective than brief imaginal exposure (IE) and no intervention (CONT) in the reappraisal of contamination-related thoughts. METHOD: Participants high in contamination fears identified their most distressing thoughts and were randomly assigned to VR, IE, or CONT. A category membership decision task was also conducted to determine if VR produced semantic satiation. RESULTS: In Study 1, there was no evidence of semantic satiation. Significant reductions in negative response to the thoughts was observed immediately following VR, but not IE or CONT; however, at one-week follow-up, both VR and IE groups reported similar reductions. In Study 2, the effects of VR and IE practice between post-intervention and follow-up were examined, as well as changes in behavioural avoidance. VR was found to produce semantic satiation of contamination thoughts, and VR was associated with less negative response at follow-up relative to IE and CONT, but the degree of satiation was not associated with the decreases in negative response. Only IE produced decreases in behavioural avoidance and vigilance monitoring. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results suggest that VR may have potential as an additional strategy for managing obsessional thoughts, but more research is warranted.

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  • Research on mindfulness-based programs has scarcely studied the effects on cognitive fusion, while cognitive fusion may represent an essential mechanism to target in such programs in order to reduce psychological disorders such as anxiety disorders.

    “This is an important finding as research on mindfulness-based programs has scarcely studied the effects on cognitive fusion while this may represent an essential mechanism to target in such programs in order to reduce psychological disorders such as anxiety disorders (e.g., Bardeen & Fergus, 2016; Watson et al., 2010).”

    From Mindfulness-based programs sustainably increase mental health: The role of cognitive fusion and mindfulness practice (2024) · cites this paper as Watson et al., 2010

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  1. Baer, L. (2000). Getting control: Overcoming your obsessions and compulsions (rev. ed.) . New York, NY: Plume/Penguin Books.
  2. Barlow, D. H. (1988). Anxiety and its disorders: the nature and treatment of anxiety and panic . New York, NY: Guilford Press.
  3. Foa, E. B., & Franklin, M. E. (2001). Obsessive-compulsive disorder. In D. H. Barlow (Ed.), Clinical handbook of psychological disorders, third edition (pp. 209-263). New York, NY: Guilford.
  4. Foa, E. B., Steketee, G., Grayson, J. B., & Doppelt, H. G. (1983). Treatment of obsessive compulsives: When do we fail? In E. B. Foa & P. M. G. Emmelkamp (Eds.), Failures in behavior therapy . New York: Wiley.
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  6. Luoma, J., & Hayes, S. C. (2003). Cognitive defusion. In W. T. O'Donohue, J. E. Fisher, & S. C. Hayes (Eds.), Empirically supported techniques of cognitive behavior therapy: A step by step guide for clinicians (pp. 71-83). New York, NY: Wiley.
  7. Neely, J. H. (1977). The effects of visual and verbal satiation on a lexical decision task. American Journal of Psychology, 90, 447-459.
  8. Sokolov, E. N. (1991). Local plasticity in neuronal learning. In L. R. Squire, N. M. Weinberger, G. Lynch, & J. L. McGaugh (Eds.), Memory: Organization and locus of change (pp. 364-439). New York, NY: Oxford.
  9. Strosahl, K. D., Hayes, S. C., Wilson, K. G., & Gifford, E. V. (2004). An ACT Primer: Core processes, intervention strategies, and therapist competencies. In S. C. Hayes & K. D. Strosahl (Eds.), A practical guide to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (pp. 3-29). New York, NY: Springer.
  10. Wells, A. (2000). Emotional disorders and metacognition: Innovative cognitive therapy. Chichester, UK: Wiley.

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Authors
Watson, C., Burley, M. C., & Purdon, C.
Affiliations
University of Waterloo (CA)
Corresponding author
Watson, Chris
ORCID
Purdon, Christine
Venue
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published
2010-04-12
Volume
38
Issue
3
Pages
337-353
ISSN
  • 1352-4658 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-1833
DOI
10.1017/s1352465810000196
OpenAlex
W2108200628
Cited by
16
References
89
Citations by year
2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 1 · 2012: 1
FWCI
0.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified)
Locations
  • Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UWSpace (University of Waterloo) (submittedVersion)
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 › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
Keywords
verbal repetition, semantic satiation, cognitive defusion, acceptance and commitment therapy, fear of contamination, obsessional thoughts, imaginal exposure, avoidance behavior, vigilance monitoring
MeSH terms
Affect, Female, Humans, Male, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Surveys and Questionnaires, Semantics, Thinking, Verbal Behavior, Young Adult

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