GAD, Metacognition, and Mindfulness: An Information Processing Analysis
Abstract
In this commentary I discuss the integration of mindful procedures in cognitive therapy of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and attempt to answer questions concerning the effects of mindfulness on information processing and on mechanisms purported to maintain GAD in the metacognitive model of this disorder. Different techniques that promote mindfulness can be identified, including mindfulness meditation and attention training. These techniques are intended to disrupt repetitive styles of dysfunctional thinking. I argue that the effect of mindfulness strategies on information processing in emotional disorder can be conceptualized in metacognitive terms as (a) activating a metacognitive mode of processing; (b) disconnecting the influence of maladaptive beliefs on processing; (c) strengthening flexible responding to threat; and (d) strengthening metacognitive plans for controlling cognition. Although mindfulness meditation may have general treatment applications, the metacognitive model of GAD suggests caution in using this treatment in GAD. It is unclear which dimension of worry should be targeted, and mindfulness meditation does not contain information that can lead to unambiguous disconfirmation of erroneous beliefs about worry. © 2002 American Psychological Association D12.
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Individuals with GAD show a decreased awareness of the present moment.
“show a decreased awareness of the present moment”
From The relationship between low levels of mindfulness skills and pathological worry: The mediating role of psychological inflexibility. [La relación entre habilidades de mindfulness y preocupación patológica: El rol mediador de la inflexibilidad psicológica] (2014) · cites this paper as Wells, 2002
Individuals with GAD continuously focus their attention on possible future danger.
“individuals with GAD continuously focus their attention on possible future danger”
From The relationship between low levels of mindfulness skills and pathological worry: The mediating role of psychological inflexibility. [La relación entre habilidades de mindfulness y preocupación patológica: El rol mediador de la inflexibilidad psicológica] (2014) · cites this paper as Wells, 2002
Individuals with GAD evaluate their private experiences negatively.
“evaluate their private experiences negatively”
From The relationship between low levels of mindfulness skills and pathological worry: The mediating role of psychological inflexibility. [La relación entre habilidades de mindfulness y preocupación patológica: El rol mediador de la inflexibilidad psicológica] (2014) · cites this paper as Wells, 2002
Cites
Worry and the incubation of intrusive images following stress
Wells, A., & Papageorgiou, C. (1995) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(94)00087-z · Cited by 229 · cited 1× · 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,…”
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Letting go: Mindfulness and negative automatic thinking
Frewen, P. A., Evans, E. M., Maraj, N., Dozois, D. J. A., & Partridge, K. (2008) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/s10608-007-9142-1 · Cited by 377 · see citing works
Metacognitive model of mindfulness
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Toward the integration of meditation into higher education: a review of research evidence
Shapiro, S. L., Brown, K. W., & Astin, J. (2011) · Teachers College Record The Voice of Scholarship in Education · doi:10.1177/016146811111300306 · Cited by 215 · see citing works
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Mindfulness, psychological flexibility and emotional schemas
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“Others speculated that mental flexibility developed through this method and then applied to anxiety experiences can help to reduce patterns of cognitive rigidity associated with anxiety and worry by inhibiting secondary elaborative processing of thoughts and feelings (Wells 2002).”
BackgroundRuiz, F. J. (2014) · Anales de Psicologia · doi:10.6018/analesps.30.3.150651 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
“Because individuals with GAD continuously focus their attention on possible future danger, evaluate their private experiences negatively, and show a decreased awareness of the present moment (e.g., Roemer, Salters, Raffa, & Orsillo, 2005; Wells, 2002), mindfulness meditation seems to be especially well-suited for this…”
BackgroundInfluentialSherwood, A., Carydias, E., Whelan, C., & Emerson, D. L.-M. (2020) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2020.109933 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
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Anxiety and Fear-Related Disorders: Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Rosellini, A. J., & Brown, T. A. (2024) · Tasman’s Psychiatry · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-51366-5_74 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- Wells, A.
- Venue
- Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice
- Published
- 2002-02-01
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 95-100
- ISSN
- 0969-5893 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-2850
- OpenAlex
- W2113910579
- Cited by
- 150
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 4.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Clinical Psychology Science and Practice (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Keywords
- generalized anxiety disorder, mindfulness, metacognition, cognitive therapy, mindfulness meditation, attention training, information processing, maladaptive beliefs
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