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Attention Training in the Reduction and Reappraisal of Intrusive Thoughts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 June 2007

Chris Watson  and
Christine Purdon
Chris Watson*
Affiliation:
University of Waterloo, Canada
Christine Purdon
Affiliation:
University of Waterloo, Canada
*
Reprint requests to Chris Watson, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, CanadaN2L 3G1. E-mail: cwatson@watarts.uwaterloo.ca
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Abstract

Attention Training (ATT) is an auditory attention-focusing technique that attempts to reduce the perseverative self-focused processing characteristic of anxiety and mood disorders. The present study investigated the effects of one session of ATT in the reduction and reappraisal of intrusive thoughts in a university sample reporting high levels of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. One-hundred and eight participants identified their most distressing intrusive thought and spent 7 minutes monitoring their stream of consciousness while recording occurrences of the identified thought. They then rated the unpleasantness of the intrusive thought, their attempts to dismiss the thought from consciousness, and their perceived success in reducing the frequency of the thought. Participants were then randomly assigned to receive one session of ATT, thought replacement instructions (TR), distraction instructions (DI), or no intervention (CONT). Participants then repeated the thought monitoring interval and ratings. ATT was expected to be the most effective in decreasing the frequency and unpleasantness of intrusive thoughts. However, contrary to hypotheses, all groups reported similar decreases across intervals. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Keywords

Attention TrainingOCDintrusive thoughtsreductionappraisal
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 36 , Issue 1 , January 2008 , pp. 61 - 70
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2007

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