Maladaptive Core Beliefs and their Relation to Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Abstract

Research has demonstrated that individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) hold unhelpful beliefs about worry, uncertainty, and the problem-solving process. Extant writings (e.g., treatment manuals) also suggest that other types of maladaptive beliefs may characterize those with GAD. However, these other beliefs have received limited empirical attention and are not an explicit component of cognitive theories of GAD. The present study examined the extent to which dysfunctional attitudes, early maladaptive schemas, and broad self-focused and other-focused beliefs explain significant variance in GAD symptoms, over and above negative and positive beliefs about worry, negative beliefs about uncertainty, and negative beliefs about problems. N = 138 participants classified into Probable GAD and Non-GAD groups completed self-report measures. After controlling for trait anxiety and depressive symptoms, only beliefs about worry, negative beliefs about uncertainty, and schemas reflecting unrelenting standards (e.g., "I must meet all my responsibilities all the time"), the need to self-sacrifice (e.g., "I'm the one who takes care of others"), and less positive views of other people and their intentions (e.g., lower endorsement of views such as "other people are fair"), were unique correlates of Probable GAD versus Non-GAD or GAD severity. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

Negative Problems Orientation Questionnaire for Chinese Adolescents: Bifactor Model and Measurement Invariance

“…The results mainly support the general factor NPO being positively correlated with depression, anxiety, and stress. This finding is similar to those of previous clinical studies that supported the important role of NPO in the development of anxiety and depressive disorders (Fergus et al, 2015;Koerner et al, 2015;Hearn et al, 2017). Moreover, this study also showed that the domain-specific factor of perceived threat was positively related to engagement with worry, and both self-inefficiency and negative outcome expectancy were positively associated with the general factor of worry.…”

Like parent, like child? Exploring the association between early maladaptive schemas of adolescents involved with Child Protective Services and their parents

“…The associations between EMS and a wide range of mental-health problems have been investigated extensively, both in adult and-more recently-in adolescent samples. For example, core maladaptive schemas have been successfully identified in adult patients suffering from various forms of psychopathology including personality disorders (Barazandeh, Kissane, Saeedi, & Gordon, 2016), substance misuse (Brotchie, Meyer, Copello, Kidney, & Waller, 2004;Shorey, Stuart, & Anderson, 2013), aggression-related disorders (Baker & Beech, 2004), anxiety disorders (Koerner, Tallon, & Kusec, 2015), depression (Renner, Lobbestael, Peeters, Arntz, & Huibers, 2012), eating disorders (Unoka, Tölgyes, Czobor, & Simon, 2010), and post-traumatic stress disorder (Cockram, Drummond, & Lee, 2010). With regard to adolescents, EMS were also found to be related to a variety of psychological symptoms in community adolescents (Roelofs, Lee, Ruijten, & Lobbestael, 2011), referred and nonreferred depressed adolescents (Lumley & Harkness, 2007), referred obese youth (van Vlierberghe & Braet, 2007), and referred youth with various emotional and behavioural problems (van Vlierberghe, Braet, Bosmans, Rosseel, & Bögels, 2010).…”

Co-rumination, anxiety, and maladaptive cognitive schemas: when friendship can hurt

“…Furthermore, Overvigilance/Inhibition and Other-Directedness domains have been shown to have a central role in the activation of the cognitive trait anxiety. 55 In fact, maladaptive cognitive schemas related to perfectionism, such as Unrelenting Standards schema, Self-Sacrifice, and Negativity schema, characterize people who are prone to excessive and pathological worry and uncertainty in the problem-solving process. 55 …”