Looking on the bright side: Accessing benign meanings reduces worry

Hirsch, Colette R.; Hayes, Sarra; Mathews, Andrew

doi:10.1037/a0013473

Cited by 175Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesPsychological Treatments and AssessmentsPsychotherapy Techniques and Applications

Looking on the bright side: Accessing benign meanings reduces worry

Hirsch, Colette R., Hayes, Sarra, Mathews, Andrew·2009·Journal of Abnormal Psychology

DOI 10.1037/a0013473

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

This research investigated whether increasing access to benign outcomes of ambiguous events decreases excessive worry. Participants reporting high levels of worry were assigned either to practice in accessing benign meanings of threat-related homographs and emotionally ambiguous scenarios or to a control condition in which threatening or benign meanings were accessed with equal frequency. Results were assessed by use of a breathing focus task that involved categorizing the valence of thought intrusions before and after an instructed worry period and a test of working memory capacity available to participants while worrying. In comparison with the control group, the benign group reported fewer negative thought intrusions (as rated by both participants and an assessor) and less anxiety during the breathing focus task and showed greater residual working memory capacity while worrying. These findings suggest that enhancing access to benign outcomes is an effective method of reducing both the persistence of worry and its detrimental consequences.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1037/a0013473

Cites

52 of 52 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

This paper’s full text isn’t openly available, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

The thought intrusions task has been widely used to examine thought intrusions and worry in non-clinical groups, individuals with elevated worry, GAD, and associated conditions.
“This task has been widely used to examine thought intrusions and worry in non-clinical groups (Krebs, Hirsch, & Mathews, 2010), individuals with elevated worry, and generalized anxiety disorder (Hayes et al., 2010, Hirsch et al., 2009) and associated conditions (i.e. insomnia symptoms, Baker, Baldwin, & Garner, 2015).”
From Testing the differential effects of acceptance and attention-based psychological interventions on intrusive thoughts and worry (2017) · cites this paper as Hirsch et al., 2009

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Williams, J. B. W., & First, M. B. (2013) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.104 · Cited by 109,841 · see citing works
Untitled work
(1970) · Cited by 24,983 · see citing works
Development and validation of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire
Meyer, T. J., Miller, M. L., Metzger, R. L., & Borkovec, T. D. (1990) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(90)90135-6 · Cited by 5,099 · see citing works
Attentional bias in emotional disorders.
MacLeod, C., Mathews, A., & Tata, P. R. (1986) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037//0021-843x.95.1.15 · Cited by 2,553 · see citing works
Anxiety and Performance: The Processing Efficiency Theory
Eysenck, M. W., & Calvo, M. G. (1992) · Cognition & Emotion · doi:10.1080/02699939208409696 · Cited by 2,448 · see citing works
Preliminary exploration of worry: Some characteristics and processes
Borkovec, T. D., Robinson, E., Pruzinsky, T., & DePree, J. A. (1983) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(83)90121-3 · Cited by 1,468 · see citing works
Generalized anxiety disorder: A preliminary test of a conceptual model
Dugas, M. J., Gagnon, F., Ladouceur, R., & Freeston, M. H. (1998) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7967(97)00070-3 · Cited by 1,072 · see citing works
Cognitive Approaches to Emotion and Emotional Disorders
Mathews, A., & MacLeod, C. (1994) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev.ps.45.020194.000325 · Cited by 1,023 · see citing works
Reliability Generalization of Scores on the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
Barnes, L. L. B., Harp, D., & Jung, W. S. (2002) · Educational and Psychological Measurement · doi:10.1177/0013164402062004005 · Cited by 947 · see citing works
Meta-Cognition and worry: A cognitive model of generalized anxiety disorder
Wells, A. (1995) · Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy · doi:10.1017/s1352465800015897 · Cited by 866 · see citing works
Why worry? The cognitive function of anxiety
Mathews, A. (1990) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(90)90132-3 · Cited by 827 · see citing works
Psychometric properties of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire in a clinical anxiety disorders sample
Brown, T. A., Antony, M. M., & Barlow, D. H. (1992) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(92)90093-v · Cited by 812 · see citing works
Induced emotional interpretation bias and anxiety.
Mathews, A., & Mackintosh, B. (2000) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/0021-843x.109.4.602 · Cited by 739 · cited 2× · see citing works
“The materials and methods used here were originally developed to manipulate interpretive biases (Grey & Mathews, 2000; Mathews & Mackintosh, 2000).”
Method
Mental Imagery and Emotion: A Special Relationship?
Holmes, E. A., & Mathews, A. (2005) · Emotion · doi:10.1037/1528-3542.5.4.489 · Cited by 612 · see citing works
Cognitive therapy versus exposure and applied relaxation in social phobia: A randomized controlled trial.
Clark, D. M., Ehlers, A., Hackmann, A., McManus, F., Fennell, M., Grey, N., Waddington, L., & Wild, J. (2006) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.74.3.568 · Cited by 603 · see citing works
Preliminary reliability and validity of the generalized anxiety disorder questionnaire-IV: A revised self-report diagnostic measure of generalized anxiety disorder
Newman, M. G., Zuellig, A. R., Kachin, K. E., Constantino, M. J., Przeworski, A., Erickson, T., & Cashman-McGrath, L. (2002) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7894(02)80026-0 · Cited by 553 · see citing works
The Penn State Worry Questionnaire: Psychometric properties and associated characteristics.
Plaza, S. M., & Borkovec, T. D. (1994) · Cited by 523 · see citing works
Bias in interpretation of ambiguous sentences related to threat in anxiety
Eysenck, M. W., Mogg, K., May, J., Richards, A., & Mathews, A. (1991) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/0021-843x.100.2.144 · Cited by 516 · see citing works
Self-citation
Attention and arousal, cognition and performance
Eysenck, M. W. (1982) · Cited by 501 · see citing works
Perceived functions of worry among generalized anxiety disorder subjects: distraction from more emotionally distressing topics?
Borkovec, T. D., & Roemer, L. (1995) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/0005-7916(94)00064-s · Cited by 469 · see citing works
Worrying: Perspectives on theory, assessment and treatment.
Davey, G. C. L., & Tallis, F. (1994) · Wiley eBooks · Cited by 451 · see citing works
The Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV (ADIS-IV).
Grisham, J. R., Brown, T. A., & Campbell, L. (2004) · Cited by 430 · see citing works
Worry and its Psychological Disorders
Adrian Wells, A., & Davey, G. C. L. (2006) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9780470713143 · Cited by 418 · see citing works
Random Generation and the Executive Control of Working Memory
Baddeley, A., Emslie, H. C., Kolodny, J., & Duncan, J. (1998) · The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Section A · doi:10.1080/713755788 · Cited by 409 · see citing works
Positive Interpretation Training: Effects of Mental Imagery Versus Verbal Training on Positive Mood
Holmes, E. A., Mathews, A., Dalgleish, T., & Mackintosh, B. (2006) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.beth.2006.02.002 · Cited by 391 · see citing works
Cognitive functioning and anxiety
Eysenck, M. W., MacLeod, C., & Mathews, A. (1987) · Psychological Research · doi:10.1007/bf00308686 · Cited by 368 · see citing works
The Capacity for Generating Information by Randomization
Baddeley, A. (1966) · Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology · doi:10.1080/14640746608400019 · Cited by 343 · see citing works
Interpretation of homophones related to threat in anxiety states.
Mathews, A., Richards, A., & Eysenck, M. W. (1989) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037//0021-843x.98.1.31 · Cited by 275 · see citing works
A comparison of three worry questionnaires
Davey, G. C. L. (1993) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(93)90042-s · Cited by 271 · see citing works
Impaired positive inferential bias in social phobia.
Hirsch, C. R., & Mathews, A. (2000) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037//0021-843x.109.4.705 · Cited by 267 · see citing works
The causal role of interpretive bias in anxiety reactivity
Wilson, E. J., MacLeod, C., Mathews, A., & Rutherford, E. M. (2006) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/0021-843x.115.1.103 · Cited by 262 · cited 2× · see citing works
“In keeping with Wilson et al. (2006) and Murphy et al. (2007), the lack of group differences in anxiety immediately following completion of both of the ambiguity tasks did not preclude significant group differences in anxiety reactivity during the breathing focus task.”
Result
Analyzing human random generation behavior: A review of methods used and a computer program for describing performance
Towse, J. N., & Neil, D. (1998) · Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers · doi:10.3758/bf03209475 · Cited by 246 · see citing works
Anxiety and the interpretation of ambiguity: A text comprehension study.
MacLeod, C., & Cohen, I. L. (1993) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037//0021-843x.102.2.238 · Cited by 234 · see citing works
A catastrophizing assessment of worrisome thoughts
Vasey, M. W., & Borkovec, T. D. (1992) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/bf01175138 · Cited by 225 · cited 1× · see citing works
“(Vasey & Borkovec, 1992).”
Experience and appraisal of worry among high worriers with and without generalized anxiety disorder
Ruscio, A. M., & Borkovec, T. D. (2004) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2003.10.007 · Cited by 222 · see citing works
Restriction of working memory capacity during worry.
Hayes, S., Hirsch, C. R., & Mathews, A. (2008) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0012908 · Cited by 209 · see citing works
Facilitating a benign interpretation bias in a high socially anxious population
Murphy, R., Hirsch, C. R., Mathews, A., Smith, K., & Clark, D. M. (2007) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2007.01.007 · Cited by 198 · cited 3× · see citing works
“The 90 scenarios originally designed to induce an interpretive bias were presented to participants over headphones (following the method used by Holmes & Mathews, 2005; Holmes et al., 2006; and Murphy et al., 2007).”
MethodResultSelf-citation
An Anxiety-Related Bias in Semantic Activation When Processing Threat/Neutral Homographs
Richards, A., & French, C. C. (1992) · The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Section A · doi:10.1080/02724989208250625 · Cited by 187 · see citing works
Inducing a benign interpretational bias reduces trait anxiety
Mathews, A., Ridgeway, V., Cook, E., & Yiend, J. (2007) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2006.10.011 · Cited by 171 · cited 2× · see citing works
“Although the current study did not assess interpretive bias directly, both Murphy et al. (2007) and Mathews et al. (2007) have already shown that use of essentially the same method and materials resulted in high anxious individuals adopting a more benign interpretive bias.”
MethodSelf-citation
Interpretative inferences when reading about emotional events
Hirsch, C. R., & Mathews, A. (1997) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7967(97)80006-x · Cited by 167 · see citing works
The 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
Interpretation biases in social anxiety: Response generation, response selection, and self-appraisals
Huppert, J. D., Pasupuleti, R. V., Foa, E. B., & Mathews, A. (2007) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2007.01.006 · Cited by 146 · see citing works
Effects of Training on Interpretation of Emotional Ambiguity
Grey, S. J., & Mathews, A. (2000) · The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Section A · doi:10.1080/713755937 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
On random generation and the central executive of working memory
Towse, J. N. (1998) · British Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1111/j.2044-8295.1998.tb02674.x · Cited by 113 · see citing works
Worry Domains Questionnaire
Tallis, F., Eysenck, M. W., & Mathews, A. (1992) · PsycTESTS Dataset · doi:10.1037/t01721-000 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Inducing an interpretation bias changes self-imagery: A preliminary investigation
Hirsch, C. R., Mathews, A., & Clark, D. M. (2006) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2006.11.001 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder With Integrations From Interpersonal and Experiential Therapies
Borkovec, T. D., Newman, M. G., & Castonguay, L. G. (2003) · CNS Spectrums · doi:10.1017/s1092852900018642 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
The relation between worrying and concerns: The importance of perceived probability and cost
Berenbaum, H., Thompson, R. J., & Pomerantz, E. M. (2006) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2006.03.009 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
A Mood‐as‐Input Account of Perseverative Worrying
Davey, G. C. L. (2006) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9780470713143.ch13 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Negative self-imagery blocks inferences
Hirsch, C. R., Mathews, A., Clark, D. M., Williams, R., & Morrison, J. (2003) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7967(03)00057-3 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Interpretation of homophones related to threat: Anxiety or response bias effects?
Mogg, K., Bradley, B. P., Miller, T., POTTS, H. W. W., Glenwright, J., & Kentish, J. (1994) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/bf02357754 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Effects of priming and suppression of worry
Mathews, A., & Milroy, R. (1994) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(94)90164-3 · Cited by 35 · see citing works

Flagged first, then by citations

1 of the 53 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Sorted by citations

A meta-analysis of the effect of cognitive bias modification on anxiety and depression
Hallion, L. S., & Ruscio, A. M. (2011) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/a0024355 · Cited by 891 · see citing works
Cognitive bias modification approaches to anxiety.
MacLeod, C., & Mathews, A. (2012) · Annual Review of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032511-143052 · Cited by 617 · see citing works
A review of current evidence for the causal impact of attentional bias on fear and anxiety
Van Bockstaele, B., Verschuere, B., Tibboel, H., De Houwer, J., Crombez, G., & Koster, E. H. W. (2014) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/a0034834 · Cited by 485 · see citing works
A cognitive model of pathological worry
Hirsch, C. R., & Mathews, A. (2012) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2012.06.007 · Cited by 400 · see citing works
Resolving Ambiguity in Emotional Disorders: The Nature and Role of Interpretation Biases
Hirsch, C. R., Meeten, F., Krahé, C., & Reeder, C. (2016) · Annual Review of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-021815-093436 · Cited by 331 · see citing works
Cognitive Bias Modification: Past Perspectives, Current Findings, and Future Applications
Hertel, P. T., & Mathews, A. (2011) · Perspectives on Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/1745691611421205 · Cited by 321 · see citing works
Cyberchondriasis: fact or fiction? A preliminary examination of the relationship between health anxiety and searching for health information on the internet
Muse, K., McManus, F., Leung, C., Meghreblian, B., & Williams, J. M. G. (2012) · Journal of Anxiety Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2011.11.005 · Cited by 303 · see citing works
Introduction to the special section on cognitive bias modification in emotional disorders
Koster, E. H. W., Fox, E., & MacLeod, C. (2009) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0014379 · Cited by 272 · see citing works
Whither cognitive bias modification research? Commentary on the special section articles.
MacLeod, C., Koster, E. H. W., & Fox, E. (2009) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0014878 · Cited by 239 · see citing works
How to boost positive interpretations? A Meta-Analysis of the effectiveness of cognitive bias modification for interpretation
Menne-Lothmann, C., Viechtbauer, W., Höhn, P., Kasanova, Z., Haller, S. P., Drukker, M., van Os, J., Wichers, M., & Lau, J. Y. F. (2014) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0100925 · Cited by 235 · see citing works
Cognitive bias modification for anxiety: current evidence and future directions
Beard, C. (2011) · Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics · doi:10.1586/ern.10.194 · Cited by 222 · see citing works
Relationships among cognition, emotion, and motivation: implications for intervention and neuroplasticity in psychopathology
Crocker, L. D., Heller, W., Warren, S. L., O'Hare, A. J., Infantolino, Z. P., & Miller, G. A. (2013) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2013.00261 · Cited by 193 · see citing works
Cognitive Bias Modification Using Mental Imagery for Depression: Developing A Novel Computerized Intervention to Change Negative Thinking Styles
Lang, T. J., Blackwell, S. E., Harmer, C. J., Davison, P., & Holmes, E. A. (2012) · European Journal of Personality · doi:10.1002/per.855 · Cited by 171 · see citing works
The effects of modifying interpretation bias on worry in generalized anxiety disorder
Hayes, S., Hirsch, C. R., Krebs, G., & Mathews, A. (2010) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2009.10.006 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
Generalized Anxiety Disorder, worry and attention to threat: A systematic review
Goodwin, H., Yiend, J., & Hirsch, C. R. (2017) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2017.03.006 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
Worry 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
Fishing for happiness: The effects of generating positive imagery on mood and behaviour
Pictet, A., Coughtrey, A. E., Mathews, A., & Holmes, E. A. (2011) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2011.10.003 · Cited by 121 · see citing works
The influence of cognitive control training on stress reactivity and rumination in response to a lab stressor and naturalistic stress
Hoorelbeke, K., Koster, E. H. W., Vanderhasselt, M., Callewaert, S., & Demeyer, I. (2015) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2015.03.010 · Cited by 117 · see citing works
Cognitive bias modification training in adolescents: effects on interpretation biases and mood.
Lothmann, C., Holmes, E., Chan, S., & Lau, J. Y. F. (2011) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2010.02286.x · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Are Attentional Control Resources Reduced by Worry in Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
Stefanopoulou, E., Hirsch, C., Hayes, S., Adlam, A., & Coker, S. (2014) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0036343 · Cited by 105 · see citing works
Longitudinal Antecedents of Executive Function in Preschoolers
Conway, A., & Stifter, C. A. (2012) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2012.01756.x · Cited by 113 · see citing works
Cognitive bias modification procedures in the management of mental disorders
MacLeod, C. (2012) · Current Opinion in Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/yco.0b013e32834fda4a · Cited by 104 · see citing works
Interpretation training to target repetitive negative thinking in generalized anxiety disorder and depression.
Hirsch, C. R., Krahé, C., Whyte, J., Loizou, S., Bridge, L., Norton, S., & Mathews, A. (2018) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/ccp0000310 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Self-citation
Perseverative thought: A robust predictor of response to emotional challenge in generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder
Ruscio, A. M., Seitchik, A. E., Gentes, E. L., Jones, J. D., & Hallion, L. S. (2011) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2011.10.001 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Worry 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
Modifying interpretations among individuals high in anxiety sensitivity
Steinman, S. A., & Teachman, B. (2010) · Journal of Anxiety Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2009.08.008 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Executive function and other cognitive deficits are distal risk factors of generalized anxiety disorder 9 years later
Zainal, N. H., & Newman, M. G. (2017) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291717003579 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
Involuntary future projections are as frequent as involuntary memories, but more positive
Finnbogadóttir, H., & Berntsen, D. (2012) · Consciousness and Cognition · doi:10.1016/j.concog.2012.06.014 · Cited by 94 · see citing works
Engaging in imagery versus verbal processing of worry: Impact on negative intrusions in high worriers
Stokes, C., & Hirsch, C. R. (2010) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2009.12.011 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Self-citation
How imagining personal future scenarios influences affect: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Schubert, T., Eloo, R., Scharfen, J., & Nexhmedin Morina, B. (2019) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2019.101811 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Facilitating a benign attentional bias reduces negative thought intrusions.
Hayes, S., Hirsch, C. R., & Mathews, A. (2010) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0018264 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Self-citation
Characteristics of worry in Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Hirsch, C. R., Mathews, A., Lequertier, B., Perman, G., & Hayes, S. (2013) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2013.03.004 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Effects of modifying interpretation bias on transdiagnostic repetitive negative thinking.
Hirsch, C., Krahé, C., Whyte, J., Bridge, L., Loizou, S., Norton, S., & Mathews, A. (2020) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/ccp0000455 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Effects of working memory training on emotion regulation: Transdiagnostic review
Barkus, E. (2020) · PsyCh Journal · doi:10.1002/pchj.353 · Cited by 75 · see citing works
Internet-based Cognitive Bias Modification of Interpretations in patients with anxiety disorders: A randomised controlled trial
Salemink, E., Kindt, M., Rienties, H., & van den Hout, M. (2013) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2013.10.005 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Cognitive bias modification of interpretations: A viable treatment for child and adolescent anxiety?
Lau, J. Y. F. (2013) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2013.07.001 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation reduces spontaneous but not induced negative thought intrusions in high worriers.
Burger, A., van der Does, W., Thayer, J. F., Brosschot, J., & Verkuil, B. (2019) · Biological Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2019.01.014 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Cognitive mechanisms underlying the emotional effects of bias modification
Hoppitt, L., Mathews, A., Yiend, J., & Mackintosh, B. (2010) · Applied Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1002/acp.1678 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Self-citation
Biofeedback-Assisted Relaxation Training to Decrease Test Anxiety in Nursing Students
Prato, C., & Yucha, C. B. (2013) · Nursing Education Perspectives · doi:10.5480/1536-5026-34.2.76 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
The effect of attention modification with explicit vs. minimal instructions on worry
Krebs, G., Hirsch, C. R., & Mathews, A. (2010) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2009.10.009 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Development and randomized trial evaluation of a novel computer-delivered anxiety sensitivity intervention
Capron, D. W., & Schmidt, N. B. (2016) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2016.04.001 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Attentional control and suppressing negative thought intrusions in pathological worry
Fox, E., Dutton, K., Yates, A., Georgiou, G. A., & Mouchlianitis, E. (2015) · Clinical Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/2167702615575878 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Modifying interpretation biases in body dysmorphic disorder: Evaluation of a brief computerized treatment.
Summers, B. J., & Cougle, J. (2016) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2016.09.005 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
A preliminary investigation of a novel training to target cognitive biases towards negative social stimuli in Anorexia Nervosa
Cardi, V., Esposito, M., Bird, G., Rhind, C., Yiend, J., Schifano, S., Hirsch, C. R., & Treasure, J. L. (2015) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2015.08.019 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Heightened ruminative disposition is associated with impaired attentional disengagement from negative relative to positive information: support for the “impaired disengagement” hypothesis
Southworth, F., Grafton, B., MacLeod, C., & Watkins, E. R. (2016) · Cognition & Emotion · doi:10.1080/02699931.2015.1124843 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Modifying social anxiety related to a real-life stressor using online Cognitive Bias Modification for interpretation
Hoppitt, L., Illingworth, J. L., MacLeod, C., Hampshire, A., Dunn, B., & Mackintosh, B. (2014) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2013.10.008 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Internet-delivered interpretation training reduces worry and anxiety in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled experiment.
Hirsch, C. R., Krahé, C., Whyte, J., Krzyzanowski, H., Meeten, F., Norton, S., & Mathews, A. (2021) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/ccp0000660 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Worry amplifies theory-of-mind reasoning for negatively valenced social stimuli in generalized anxiety disorder
Zainal, N. H., & Newman, M. G. (2017) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2017.11.084 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Modification of Information-Processing Biases in Emotional Disorders: Clinically Relevant Developments in Experimental Psychopathology
Baert, S., Koster, E. H. W., & De Raedt, R. (2011) · International Journal of Cognitive Therapy · doi:10.1521/ijct.2011.4.2.208 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Are Different Forms of Repetitive Negative Thinking Associated With Interpretation Bias in Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression?
Krahé, C., Whyte, J., Bridge, L., Loizou, S., & Hirsch, C. R. (2019) · Clinical Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/2167702619851808 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Delineating the Role of Negative Verbal Thinking in Promoting Worry, Perceived Threat, and Anxiety
Hirsch, C. R., Perman, G., Hayes, S., Eagleson, C., & Mathews, A. (2015) · Clinical Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/2167702615577349 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Self-citation
A Cognitive Model of Pathological Worry in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review
Songco, A., Hudson, J. L., & Fox, E. (2020) · Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review · doi:10.1007/s10567-020-00311-7 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Approaching cognitive behavior therapy for generalized anxiety disorder from a cognitive process perspective
Hirsch, C. R., Beale, S., Grey, N., & Liness, S. (2019) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00796 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Self-citation
Cognitive bias modification training in adolescents reduces anxiety to a psychological challenge
Lau, J. Y. F., Belli, S. R., & Chopra, R. (2013) · Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/1359104512455183 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Modifying Adolescent Interpretation Biases Through Cognitive Training: Effects on Negative Affect and Stress Appraisals
Telman, M. D., Holmes, E., & Lau, J. Y. F. (2013) · Child Psychiatry and Human Development · doi:10.1007/s10578-013-0386-6 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Effects of modifying the interpretation of emotional ambiguity
Mathews, A. (2012) · Journal of Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1080/20445911.2011.584527 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Does a culture of happiness increase rumination over failure?
McGuirk, L., Kuppens, P., Kingston, R. E. F., & Bastian, B. B. (2017) · Emotion · doi:10.1037/emo0000322 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
A randomised controlled trial investigating the benefits of adaptive working memory training for working memory capacity and attentional control in high worriers
Hotton, M., Derakshan, N., & Fox, E. (2017) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2017.10.011 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Multi-session online interpretation bias training for anxiety in a community sample
Ji, J. L., Baee, S., Zhang, D., Calicho-Mamani, C., Meyer, M. J., Funk, D. H., Portnow, S., Barnes, L. E., & Teachman, B. A. (2021) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2021.103864 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Reaching new heights: Comparing interpretation bias modification to exposure therapy for extreme height fear
Steinman, S. A., & Teachman, B. (2014) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0036023 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Attention Mechanisms in Children with Anxiety Disorders and in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Implications for Research and Practice
Weissman, A. S., Chu, B. C., Reddy, L. A., & Mohlman, J. (2012) · Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology · doi:10.1080/15374416.2012.651993 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
The Plasticity of Adolescent Cognitions: Data from a Novel Cognitive Bias Modification Training Task
Lau, J. Y. F., Molyneaux, E., Telman, M. D., & Belli, S. R. (2011) · Child Psychiatry and Human Development · doi:10.1007/s10578-011-0244-3 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
The perseverative worry bout: A review of cognitive, affective and motivational factors that contribute to worry perseveration
Davey, G. C. L., & Meeten, F. (2016) · Biological Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2016.04.003 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
The worrying mind in control: An investigation of adaptive working memory training and cognitive bias modification in worry-prone individuals
Grol, M., Schwenzfeier, A., Stricker, J., Booth, C., Temple-McCune, A., Derakshan, N., Hirsch, C. R., Becker, E. S., & Fox, E. (2018) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2018.01.005 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Modifying a negative interpretation bias for ambiguous social scenarios that depict the risk of rejection in women with anorexia nervosa
Turton, R., Cardi, V., Treasure, J. L., & Hirsch, C. R. (2017) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2017.11.089 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Interpretation bias characterizes trait rumination.
Mor, N., Hertel, P. T., Ngo, T., Shachar, T., & Redak, S. (2014) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2013.08.002 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Manifesting Breath: Empirical Evidence for the Integration of Shape-changing Biofeedback-based Artefacts within Digital Mental Health Interventions
Farrall, A., Taylor, J., Ainsworth, B., & Alexander, J. (2023) · CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/3544548.3581188 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Comparing visual and auditory presentation for the modification of interpretation bias
Standage, H., Ashwin, C., & Fox, E. (2009) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2009.07.006 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Mental imagery in generalized anxiety disorder: A comparison with healthy control participants
Tallon, K., Ovanessian, M. M., Koerner, N., & Dugas, M. J. (2020) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2020.103571 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Specificity Effects in the Modification of Interpretation Bias and Stress Reactivity
Mackintosh, B., Mathews, A., Eckstein, D., & Hoppitt, L. (2013) · Journal of Experimental Psychopathology · doi:10.5127/jep.025711 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Cognitive training for modifying interpretation and attention bias in depression: Relevance to mood improvement and implications for cognitive intervention in depression
Nejati, V., Fathi, E., Shahidi, S., & Salehinejad, M. A. (2018) · Asian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2018.11.012 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on a Behavioural Measure of Rumination in Patients with Chronic, Treatment-Resistant Depression
Cladder-Micus, M. B., Becker, E. S., Spijker, J., Speckens, A. E. M., & Vrijsen, J. N. (2019) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/s10608-019-09997-8 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Trained interpretive bias survives mood change.
Salemink, E., & van den Hout, M. (2010) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2010.02.010 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Emotion Regulation and the Cognitive-Experimental Approach to Emotional Dysfunction
MacLeod, C., & Bucks, R. S. (2011) · Emotion Review · doi:10.1177/1754073910380970 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Cognitive bias modification training of attention and interpretation to reduce expectations of social rejection in adolescents with eating disorders: A small efficacy randomized controlled trial
Rowlands, K., Beaty, T., Simic, M., Grafton, B., Hirsch, C. R., Treasure, J. L., & Cardi, V. (2022) · International Journal of Eating Disorders · doi:10.1002/eat.23809 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Relations between Working Memory Performance and Worry
Bredemeier, K., & Berenbaum, H. (2013) · Journal of Experimental Psychopathology · doi:10.5127/jep.032212 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Daytime intrusive thoughts and subjective insomnia symptoms.
Baker, L., Baldwin, D., & Garner, M. (2015) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2015.02.022 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Using event-related potential and behavioural evidence to understand interpretation bias in relation to worry
Feng, Y.-C., Krahé, C., Sumich, A. L., Meeten, F., Lau, J. Y. F., & Hirsch, C. R. (2019) · Biological Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2019.107746 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Impact of imagery-enhanced interpretation training on offline and online interpretations in worry
Feng, Y.-C., Krahé, C., Meeten, F., Sumich, A. L., Mok, C. L. M., & Hirsch, C. R. (2019) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2019.103497 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
The Impact of Worry on Attention to Threat
Oathes, D. J., Squillante, C. M., Ray, W., & Nitschke, J. (2010) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0013411 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
The effect of sleep continuity disruption on multimodal emotion processing and regulation: a laboratory‐based, randomised, controlled experiment in good sleepers
Reid, M. J., Omlin, X., Espie, C. A., Sharman, R. L., Tamm, S., & Kyle, S. D. (2022) · Journal of Sleep Research · doi:10.1111/jsr.13634 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Look before you leap: the role of negative urgency in appraisals of ambiguous and unambiguous scenarios in individuals high in generalized anxiety disorder symptoms
Malivoire, B. L., Marcos, M., Pawluk, E., Tallon, K., Kusec, A., & Koerner, N. (2018) · Cognitive Behaviour Therapy · doi:10.1080/16506073.2018.1508247 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
A Critical Review of Studies Assessing Interpretation Bias Towards Social Stimuli in People With Eating Disorders and the Development and Pilot Testing of Novel Stimuli for a Cognitive Bias Modification Training
Rowlands, K., Wilson, E., Simic, M., Harrison, A., & Cardi, V. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.538527 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Working memory updating training reduces state repetitive negative thinking: Proof-of-concept for a novel cognitive control training
Roberts, H., Mostazir, M., Moberly, N. J., Watkins, E. R., & Adlam, A. (2021) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2021.103871 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Effects of non‐invasive vagus nerve stimulation on cognitive and autonomic correlates of perseverative cognition
Smet, S. D., Ottaviani, C., Verkuil, B., Kappen, M., Baeken, C., & Vanderhasselt, M. (2023) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1111/psyp.14250 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
A Cognitive Control Training as Add-On Treatment to Usual Care for Depressed Inpatients
Ferrari, G. R. A., Vanderhasselt, M., Rinck, M., Demeyer, I., Raedt, R. D., Beisel, S., Lindenmeyer, J., & Becker, E. S. (2021) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/s10608-020-10197-y · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Threat engagement, disengagement, and sensitivity bias in worry-prone individuals as measured by an emotional go/no-go task.
Gole, M., Köchel, A., Schäfer, A., & Schienle, A. (2012) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2011.07.002 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
An Adapted Word-Sentence Association Paradigm for Generalized Anxiety and Worry: Assessing Interpretation Bias
Ogniewicz, A., Dugas, M. J., Langlois, F., Gosselin, P., & Koerner, N. (2014) · Journal of Experimental Psychopathology · doi:10.5127/jep.00 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
When We Should Worry More: Using Cognitive Bias Modification to Drive Adaptive Health Behaviour
Notebaert, L., Chrystal, J., Clarke, P., Holmes, E. A., & MacLeod, C. (2014) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0085092 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Testing the differential effects of acceptance and attention-based psychological interventions on intrusive thoughts and worry
Ainsworth, B., Bolderston, H., & Garner, M. (2017) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2017.01.012 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
“This task has been widely used to examine thought intrusions and worry in non-clinical groups (Krebs, Hirsch & Mathews, 2010), individuals with elevated worry, and generalised anxiety disorder (Hayes et al., 2010; Hirsch et al., 2009) and associated conditions (i.”
Method
An exploration of Intolerance of Uncertainty and memory bias.
Francis, K., Dugas, M. J., & Ricard, N. (2016) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2016.03.011 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Working Memory in Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Effects of Verbal and Image-Based Worry and Relation to Cognitive and Emotional Processes
Tallon, K., Koerner, N., & Yang, L.-X. (2016) · Journal of Experimental Psychopathology · doi:10.5127/jep.045714 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Cognitive bias modification for interpretation with and without prior repetitive negative thinking to reduce worry and rumination in generalised anxiety disorder and depression: protocol for a multisession experimental study with an active control condition
Krahé, C., Mathews, A., Whyte, J., & Hirsch, C. R. (2016) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013404 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Worry and Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Review
Newman, M. G., Cho, S., & Kim, H. (2016) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-809324-5.05108-7 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Cognitive Bias Modification: A New Frontier in Cognition and Emotion Research
MacLeod, C., & Clarke, P. (2013) · UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Smartphone‐Based Training of Cognitive Bias Modification: Efficacy for Reducing Social Anxiety in Chinese Adolescents
Mao, N., Li, T., Li, C., Ding, R., Zhang, Q., & Cui, L. (2023) · Journal of Child and Family Studies · doi:10.1007/s10826-023-02619-8 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
The Cognitive and Emotional Effects of Cognitive Bias Modification in Interpretations in Behaviorally Inhibited Youth
White, L. K., Suway, J. G., Pine, D., Field, A., Lester, K., Muris, P., Bar-Haim, Y., & Fox, N. (2016) · Journal of Experimental Psychopathology · doi:10.5127/jep.053615 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
The Future and Promise of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Commentary
Zinbarg, R. E., Mashal, N. M., Black, D. A., & Flückiger, C. (2010) · Psychiatric Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/j.psc.2010.04.003 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
A systematic review of the literature on interpretation bias and its physiological correlates
Collins, A., Scott, R. B. Y., Hirsch, C. R., Ottaviani, C., Krahé, C., & Meeten, F. (2022) · Biological Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2022.108398 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Rumination and Self‐Compassion Moderate Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy for Patients With Recurrent and Persistent Major Depressive Disorder: A Controlled Trial
Lubbers, J., Geurts, D. E. M., Spinhoven, P., Cladder-Micus, M. B., Ennen, D., Speckens, A. E. M., & Spijker, J. (2024) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1155/da/3511703 · Cited by 10 · see citing works

Facilitating a benign attentional bias reduces negative thought intrusions.
Hayes, S., Hirsch, C. R., & Mathews, A. (2010) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0018264 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
The effects of modifying interpretation bias on worry in generalized anxiety disorder
Hayes, S., Hirsch, C. R., Krebs, G., & Mathews, A. (2010) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2009.10.006 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
Continuing the investigation into the underlying cognitive mechanisms of worryPreprint
Pond, N., Meeten, F., Krahe, C., Tindle, L., & Scott, R. B. (2025) · doi:10.17605/osf.io/ev954
Concreteness of thoughts and images during suppression and expression of worry
Jendrusina, A. A., Stevens, E. S., Nahin, E. R., Legrand, A. C., & Behar, E. (2020) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2020.103754 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
The worrying mind in control: An investigation of adaptive working memory training and cognitive bias modification in worry-prone individuals
Grol, M., Schwenzfeier, A., Stricker, J., Booth, C., Temple-McCune, A., Derakshan, N., Hirsch, C. R., Becker, E. S., & Fox, E. (2018) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2018.01.005 · Cited by 38 · see citing works

Authors: Hirsch, C. R., Hayes, S., & Mathews, A.
Affiliations: King's College London (GB)
University of California, Davis (US)
ORCID: Hirsch, Colette R.
Venue: Journal of Abnormal Psychology
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2009-02
Volume: 118
Issue: 1
Pages: 44-54
ISSN: 0021-843X (ISSN-L)
1939-1846
DOI: 10.1037/a0013473
OpenAlex: W2081847233
Cited by: 175
References: 53
Citations by year: 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 12
FWCI: 17.74
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Journal of Abnormal Psychology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders: Medical Research Council
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Keywords: worry, anxiety, homographs, working memory capacity, threat appraisal, cognitive reappraisal
MeSH terms: Adult, Affect, Attention, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Surveys and Questionnaires, Semantics, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Looking on the bright side: Accessing benign meanings reduces worry

Abstract

Integrity signals

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Cites

Cited by

Related

Record

About these checks