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

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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

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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.

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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

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Looking on the bright side: Accessing benign meanings reduces worry

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