Changes in daily manifestations of Openness to Experience during intensive cognitive‐behavioral treatment

Abstract

Objective Research examining relationships between trait Openness to Experience, psychopathology, and well‐being has produced contradictory findings. Examining temporary manifestations of Openness may provide further insight into the interplay between Openness and symptoms in clinical populations. Method The present study validated a brief new measure to assess daily Openness in 271 adults (Mage = 34 years, 52% women, 83% White) taking part in 7 days of intensive treatment for acute psychopathology. Participants also completed a daily measure of depressive symptoms. Results Participants overall experienced a significant but small increase in daily Openness during treatment. Two latent classes best characterized initial levels and trajectories of Openness in this sample: medium/increase (86% of sample) and low/decrease (14%). Daily Openness negatively related to depressive symptoms over the entire course of treatment and at the daily level. Daily Openness, however, did not predict depressive symptoms from one day to the next (or vice versa). Conclusions Results of this study contribute to the scientific understanding of positive personality change during challenging life circumstances. Future research could examine whether targeting Openness as part of treatment holds clinical value. Findings are limited by this study’s short time frame and the lack of ethnoracial diversity in this sample.

Locus Coeruleus is associated with higher openness to experience and IQ: implications for the noradrenergic system for novelty seeking in daily life

“…Cognitive and behavioral approaches (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy -CBT) which focus on OE, in people who score low in OE and C, might be considered among the preventing strategies for neurodegenerative diseases (Forgeard et al 2019). This might be bene cial improving people's well-being both in enhancing the executive/attentional domain (Forgeard et al 2019;Jackson et al 2012) and in building the resilience ground to neurodegenerative diseases. Personality traits (OE especially) might be considered as critical component to focus on for brain health potentially in uencing the neuroprotective role of LC-NA system particularly in the face of neurodegeneration.…”

Changes in Positive and Negative Affect during Acute Psychiatric Treatment in People with Social Anxiety Disorder

“…Due to the exploratory nature of these aims, we did not posit any a priori hypotheses. Of note, this study is an analysis of a larger clinical dataset of patients receiving treatment at the PHP; symptom measures are completed as part of standard clinical care, and data collection has been ongoing for the past decade (see [33,34] for detailed descriptions of PHP treatment and data collection). Given that SAD often cooccurs with other disorders (e.g., depression, eating disorders, and psychosis) [35][36][37], the transdiagnostic treatment setting represents an ideal context in which to examine the present study aims.…”

“…PHP treatment focused on stabilization of symptoms via CBT-, dialectical behavior therapy-(DBT), and ACT-based group therapy, along with pharmacological treatment. See Forgeard et al for an overview of the PHP, and see Beard et al for a thorough description of eligibility for the PHP [34,38].…”

Reflecting on nostalgic, positive, and novel experiences increases state Openness

“…When experiencing greater Openness, individuals may also be more able to successfully cope with difficult life circumstances by finding ways to adapt, grow, and extract meaning from adversity (Blackie et al, 2014). As an example, individuals with medium levels of Openness undergoing treatment for psychopathology have been found to increase in daily Openness, with these changes corresponding to a reduction in depressive symptoms (Forgeard et al, 2019). Greater Openness may also be helpful when creative approaches to problem solving are required (Blackie et al, 2014).…”