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Using Brief Cognitive Restructuring and Cognitive Defusion Techniques to Cope With Negative Thoughts
Open accessAbstract
Negative thoughts, experienced by 80% to 99% of the non-clinical population, have been linked to the development of psychopathology. The current study aimed to compare a cognitive restructuring and cognitive defusion technique for coping with a personally relevant negative thought. Over a 5-day period, participants used either a restructuring, defusion, or control strategy to manage a negative thought. Pre- and post-intervention participants reported (a) believability of the thought, (b) discomfort associated with the thought, (c) negativity associated with the thought, and (d) willingness to experience the thought. Daily online questionnaires assessing the total frequency of negative thought intrusions and their level of willingness to experience the negative thought were also used. Also, 10 positive and negative self-statements were rated on the same scales, and self-report measures of mood and psychological flexibility were completed. Findings indicated that defusion lowered believability, increased comfort and willingness to have the target thought, and increased positive affect significantly more than the control and cognitive restructuring. Within groups, cognitive restructuring also made significant gains in target thought discomfort, negativity, and “willingness to have” in the same direction as defusion but the no-instruction control did not. Negative thought frequency was reduced in the defusion group, maintained in the restructuring group, and increased in the no-instruction control group. Similar trends emerged from the secondary outcome measures, that is, the effects of the strategies on the positive and negative self-statements. The current findings support the efficacy of using defusion as a strategy for managing negative thoughts.
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“Some studies have found defusion to be significantly more effective for managing negative thoughts as well as for reducing acting on food cravings (Larsson et al., 2015; Moffitt et al., 2012).”
From Effects of Cognitive Restructuring and Defusion for Coping with Difficult Thoughts in a Predominantly White Female College Student Sample (2022) · cites this paper as Larsson et al., 2015
In the citing paper
“however even one process alone has been shown to improve depression (Larsson, Hooper, Osborne, Bennett, & McHugh, 2016).”
From A randomised controlled trial of brief web-based acceptance and commitment Therapy on the general mental health, depression, anxiety and stress of college Students (2022) · cites this paper as Larsson, Hooper, Osborne, Bennett, & McHugh, 2016
In the citing paper
“This resulted in large reductions in the believability of, and distress associated with, self-critical thoughts (d = 0.87–1.35).”
From Decentering as a core component in the psychological treatment and prevention of youth anxiety and depression: a narrative review and insight report (2021) · cites this paper as [102]
In the citing paper
“while core techniques such as cognitive defusion can be highly effective for some individuals [19,21,27]”
From A Virtual Reality–Based Cognitive Defusion Application for Youth Depression and Anxiety: Mixed Methods Experimental Study. (2025) · cites this paper as [19]
In the citing paper
“cognitive defusion, a core technique within ACT [19-21], aims to help individuals separate themselves or “defuse” from distressing thoughts and emotions, often using experiential and conceptual techniques such as metaphors and visualization.”
From A Virtual Reality–Based Cognitive Defusion Application for Youth Depression and Anxiety: Mixed Methods Experimental Study. (2025) · cites this paper as [19]
In the citing paper
“Cognitive defusion and related third-wave CBT techniques typically encourage individuals to sit with uncomfortable thoughts and view them as separate to the self [19-21].”
From A Virtual Reality–Based Cognitive Defusion Application for Youth Depression and Anxiety: Mixed Methods Experimental Study. (2025) · cites this paper as [19]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Larsson, A., Hooper, N., Osborne, L. A., Bennett, P., & McHugh, L.
- Affiliations
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- University of the West of England (GB)
- Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, UK
- Swansea University (GB)
- University College Dublin (IE)
- Corresponding author
- Larsson, Andreas
- Venue
- Behavior Modification
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2015-12-18
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 452-482
- ISSN
- 0145-4455 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-4167
- OpenAlex
- W2240594527
- Cited by
- 120
- References
- 47
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2
- FWCI
- 5.37
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- eprints.uwe.ac.uk
- Locations
- Behavior Modification (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UWE Research Repository (UWE Bristol) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- ORCA Online Research @Cardiff (Cardiff University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Health and Care Research Wales (SCS/09/08)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
- Keywords
- cognitive restructuring, cognitive defusion, negative thinking, coping strategies, psychological flexibility, self-statements, positive affect, acceptance and commitment therapy
- MeSH terms
- Pessimism, Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Aged, Mental Disorders, Cognition, Emotions, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self Concept, Thinking, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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