Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry
-
J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry · Jun 2015
Fear conditioning with film clips: a complex associative learning paradigm.
We argue that the stimuli used in traditional fear conditioning paradigms are too simple to model the learning and unlearning of complex fear memories. We therefore developed and tested an adapted fear conditioning paradigm, specifically designed for the study of complex associative memories. Second, we explored whether manipulating the meaning and complexity of the CS-UCS association strengthened the learned fear association. ⋯ The fear conditioning paradigm as presented in the negative-relevant context condition holds considerable promise for the study of complex associative fear memories and therapeutic interventions for such memories.
-
J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry · Mar 2015
Spider-fearful individuals hesitantly approach threat, whereas depressed individuals do not persistently approach reward.
Much research documents that anxiety is related to the avoidance of threatening information. Research is also beginning to suggest that depression is related to a lack of approach toward positive information. However, many questions remain regarding the specificity and robustness of these effects. The goal of the present study was to examine specific motivational patterns differentiating between anxiety and depression. ⋯ These findings inform theoretical understanding of the specific motivational tendencies of anxiety and depression, and introduce a modification of the AAT that, if incorporated in clinical settings, would increase the specificity and success of cognitive bias modifications.
-
J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry · Mar 2015
Double attention bias for positive and negative emotional faces in clinical depression: evidence from an eye-tracking study.
According to cognitive models, attentional biases in depression play key roles in the onset and subsequent maintenance of the disorder. The present study examines the processing of emotional facial expressions (happy, angry, and sad) in depressed and non-depressed adults. ⋯ These results support the notion that attentional biases in depression are specific to depression-related information and that they operate in later stages in the deployment of attention.
-
J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry · Mar 2015
Borderline personality features as a potential moderator of the effect of anger and depressive rumination on shame, self-blame, and self-forgiveness.
Recent studies have suggested that types of rumination differ on how they impact psychopathology. Few research studies, however, have compared the two types of rumination. The primary aim of this research was to examine the effects of anger rumination and depressive rumination on factors related to self-conscious experiences (shame, self-blame, self-forgiveness) and negative affect among individuals with varying levels of borderline personality disorder (BPD) features. ⋯ Despite the limitations, the current study is one of few investigations comparing the differential effects of induced anger rumination and depressive rumination on affect and self-conscious experiences. This study also addresses an important gap in literature on the mechanisms by which rumination influences negative affect.
-
J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry · Dec 2014
Reliability, validity and sensitivity of a computerized visual analog scale measuring state anxiety.
Assessment of state anxiety is frequently required in clinical and research settings, but its measurement using standard multi-item inventories entails practical challenges. Such inventories are increasingly complemented by paper-and-pencil, single-item visual analog scales measuring state anxiety (VAS-A), which allow rapid assessment of current anxiety states. Computerized versions of VAS-A offer additional advantages, including facilitated and accurate data collection and analysis, and applicability to computer-based protocols. Here, we establish the psychometric properties of a computerized VAS-A. ⋯ The adequate psychometric characteristics, combined with simple and rapid administration, make the computerized VAS-A a valuable self-rating tool for state anxiety. It may prove particularly useful for clinical and research settings where multi-item inventories are less applicable, including computer-based treatment and assessment protocols. The VAS-A is freely available: http://people.socsci.tau.ac.il/mu/anxietytrauma/visual-analog-scale/.