The role of systematic processing in worry - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

The role of systematic processing in worry

Dr Suzanne Dashs.dash@sussex.ac.uk

MARS

Mood and Anxiety Research in SussexSlide2

Outline

Worry

Heuristic Systematic Model

What is systematic processing?When does it happen?

Why might worriers systematically process?

Clinical Implications

ConclusionsSlide3

Worry

“ a chain of thoughts and images, negatively affect-laden and relatively uncontrollable”

(Borkovec

et al., 1983, p.10)

Catastrophising

(Davey & Levy, 1998a)

Themes of personal inadequacy

(Davey & Levy, 1998b)Slide4

Why worry about worry?

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

(APA, DSM-IV-TR, 4th

ed

, 2000)

Social anxiety

(Purdon & Harrington, 2006)

Panic disorder

(Purdon & Harrington, 2006)

Hypochondriasis

(Purdon & Harrington, 2006)

OCD checking and doubting

(

Tallis

&

DeSilva

, 1992)

Psychosis

(

Startup

, Freeman &

Garety

, 2007)Slide5

Mechanisms of worry

Negative mood

Intolerance of uncertaintyProblem-solving confidence

Q. How do these variables increase worry?

A.(???) Alter the way we process information

Increase worry perseverationSlide6

Dual process models of information processing

17 × 24Slide7

Dual process models of information processing

17 × 24Slide8

Why might worriers be using systematic processing (SP)?

SP: detailed, analytical processing

Worry: persistent, detailed processing

Worry and SP arise through unconscious/non-deliberative means

SP deployed when confidence is unsatisfactory

Worriers strive to feel prepared, consider all possible negative outcomes, feel confident that they can cope

Influenced by similar cognitive appraisals and cognitive states

Similar functional

neuroanatomySlide9

Heuristic Systematic Model

Systematic processing

“An

analytic orientation in which perceivers

access and scrutinize

all informational input for its

relevance and importance

... and

integrate all useful information

in forming their judgements”

(

Chaiken

et al., 1989, p. 212)Slide10

The sufficiency threshold

Q. How much processing do I need to do to be confident in my judgement?

Lots, I need to be very confident

Not much, I don’t need to be that confident

Systematic

processing

Heuristic processingSlide11

The sufficiency threshold

Systematic

processing

Heuristic processing

Trivial task

Maheswaran

&

Chaiken

(1991)Slide12

The sufficiency threshold

Systematic

processing

Heuristic processing

Important task

Maheswaran

&

Chaiken

(1991)Slide13

The sufficiency threshold

Q. How much processing do I need to do to be confident in my judgement?

Desired

ActualSlide14

Raised sufficiency thresholds

Construct/

Appraisal

Definition Systematic processing worry

Accountability

Pressure to justify one’s opinions

(

Erb

et al., 2007; Livingston & Sinclair, 2008)

Livingston

& Sinclair (2008);

Tetlock

(1983)

Brain

et al. (2008);

Sweet &

Pelton

-Sweet (2008)

Responsibility

“one has power which is pivotal to bring about or prevent subjectively crucial negative outcomes” (

Salkovskis

et al., 1992)

Bohner

et al.. (1995);

Uleman

(1989)

Startup

& Davey (2003)

Need for

cognition

“a need to structure relevant situations in meaningful, integrated ways”

(Cohen et al., 1955, p. 21)

Batra

&

Stayman

(1990);

Cacioppo

et al. (1983)

Davey,

Tallis

et al. (1996);

Startup

& Davey (2001)

Desire for

Control

Motive to control events in one’s life

Swann et al. (1981)

Borkovec

(1994)Slide15

Negative Mood

Construct/

Appraisal

Definition Systematic processing

 worry

Negative

Mood

“a dimension of subjective distress and

unpleasurable

engagement”

(Watson et al., 1988,

p.1063)

Ambady

& Gray (2002);

Bodenhausen

et al. (1994);

Bohner

et al. (1998);

Tiedens

& Linton (2001)

Johnston & Davey (1997);

Startup

& Davey (2001)

Worriers experience greater endemic negative affect

(Davey, Hampton, Farrell, & Davidson, 1992; Meyer, Miller, Metzger, & Borkovec, 1990;

Tallis

,

Eysenck

, & Mathews, 1991; Metzger, Miller, Cohen,

Sofka

, & Borkovec, 1990;

Wisocki

,

Handen

& Morse, 1986)Slide16

Dash & Davey (2012)

Negative mood

Sufficiency threshold

Worry

(

PSWQ)

Unmediated:

b

= 8.21,

p

=

.

01

Mediated:

b

=

4.13,

p

= .12Slide17

High intolerance of uncertainty

Correlates with trait worry

(Buhr

& Dugas

, 2006)

Causes worry

(

Meeten

et al. 2012)

Drives ‘what if...?’ thinking

Seek more information before decision-making

(Carleton et al., 2007)

Is associated with desire for control

OCD

(Moulding &

Kyrios

, 2007)

Anorexia nervosa

(

Sternheim

et al., 2011)

Desired

IU increases desired confidenceSlide18

Low problem-solving confidence

Correlates with worry

(Belzer

et al., 2002; Davey, 1994; Davey & Levy, 1998a)

Causes worry

(Davey,

Jubb

& Cameron, 1996)

Deplete confidence that goals are met for worry

Low PSC increases uncertainty

(

Tormala

et al., 2008)



detailed processing

(e.g. Weary & Jacobson, 1997)

Actual

Low PSC decreases actual confidenceSlide19

Summary

Raised sufficiency thresholds

Experience negative moodIntolerant of uncertainty

Discrepancy between desired confidence and actual confidenceFeel accountable and responsible

Desire control of, and have a high need for cognition about, worry-related cognitionsSlide20

Clinical Implications

Socialisation to two processing modes allows dialogue of when it is useful to deploy effortful processing, and when it is unnecessary

Attention should be paid to appraisals that raise sufficiency thresholds

Responsibility, accountability, desire for control

Hirsch & Mathews – top-down and bottom-up processes – most effective treatments may tackle both. Combine with cognitive bias modification?

Treat comorbid low moodSlide21

Conclusions

Worry occurs across a range of psychopathologies, as well as in the general population

Key dispositional factors exhibited by worriers – low PSC, IU and negative mood – are all likely to widen the gap between actual and desired confidence – raising the sufficiency threshold

Worriers will deploy systematic processing in an attempt to meet their sufficiency threshold

Clinical implications include challenging appraisals that raise sufficiency thresholds in conjunction with targeting heuristic processesSlide22

Collaborators and funding

Professor Graham Davey

Dr Frances

Meeten

Graduate Teaching Assistantship Slide23

Thank you for listening

Any questions?

S.dash@sussex.ac.uk