Negative Mood Regulation (NMR) expectancies, mood, and affect intensity among clients in substance disorder treatment facilities

Negative mood regulation expectancies, frontal lobe related behaviors and alcohol use

“…We also expected lower NMR to be associated with higher scores on all three frontal lobe dysfunction indices of the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe; Grace & Malloy, 2001) Self-Rating Form, reflecting the presumed role of the frontal lobes in NMR. Negative moods as assessed by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) were also expected to be negatively related to NMR in line with previous work and consistent with theory (Lyvers et al, 2008;Thorberg & Lyvers, 2006). Finally, the Disinhibition and Executive Dysfunction measures of the FrSBe were expected to differentiate high risk from low risk drinkers as found in a recent study by Lyvers et al (in press).…”

“…The present study examined NMR expectancies in relation to both risky alcohol consumption and indices of prefrontal cortical functioning using self-report measures. We expected to find risky drinking associated with lower levels of NMR in a non-clinical sample, consistent with the hypothesis that inherently low NMR predisposes to heavier or more problematic substance use (Thorberg & Lyvers, 2006). We also expected lower NMR to be associated with higher scores on all three frontal lobe dysfunction indices of the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe; Grace & Malloy, 2001) Self-Rating Form, reflecting the presumed role of the frontal lobes in NMR.…”

“…As such this model fails step 2 of Baron and Kenny's(1986) mediation process. Thorberg and Lyvers (2006) found that clients undergoing inpatient treatment for addictions (including alcoholism) reported significantly higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression on the DASS and lower levels of NMR compared to non-addict controls. In the present study, there were no such differences between those defined as High Risk drinkers and those defined as Low Risk drinkers based on their AUDIT scores in a non-clinical sample of social drinkers that included university students and members of the local community.…”

“…A high score indicates a strong belief that one can alleviate one's own negative moods through non-pharmacological means. Factor analysis has shown that the NMR scale is unidimensional (Catanzaro & Mearns, 1990) and correlates in theoretically predicted ways with instruments assessing anxiety, depression, emotional states and coping responses (Drwal, 2008;Lyvers et al, 2008;Thorberg & Lyvers, 2006). Discriminant validity from social desirability, depression and locus of control has been demonstrated (Catanzaro,1994;Catanzaro & Mearns, 1990;Mearns 1991).…”

“…Such beliefs vary across individuals, appear to be relatively stable traits, are negatively related to anxiety and depression and are positively related to active coping strategies (Drwal, 2008;Lyvers, Thorberg, Dobie, Huang & Reginald, 2008;Kassel, Bornovalova & Mehta, 2006: Mearns, 1991.. As people with substance disorders frequently cite a need to alleviate negative mood states as a major motive for their alcohol or drug use (Cooper, Frone, Russell & Mudar, 1995;Wills & Shiffman, 1985;Woody, Urschel & Alterman, 1992), Thorberg and Lyvers (2006) examined mood as well as NMR expectancies in 158 volunteers, including 99 clients enrolled in addiction treatment programs who had been abstinent from drugs and alcohol for at least two weeks (and thus were well past acute withdrawal). Addicts reported significantly higher levels of negative moods (stress, anxiety, depression, as assessed by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, or DASS; Lovibond & Lovibond, 2002), more intense moods (as assessed by the Affect Intensity Measure, or AIM; Larsen, 1984), and lower NMR expectancies (assessed by the NMR scale; Catanzaro & Mearns) compared to non-addict controls.…”