Refraining from Intrusive Thoughts is Strategy Dependent: A Comment on Sugiura, et al. and a Preliminary Informal Test of Detached Mindfulness, Acceptance, and other Strategies

Abstract

The control of cognition is fundamental to psychological well being. One dimension recently explored by Sugiura, Sugiura and Tanno (2013) is the perceived ability to refrain from catastrophic thinking-a construct that could be a marker of several factors. The current paper recommends deeper consideration in terms of metacognitive theory and exemplifies this by testing the effect of a strategy that focuses on abstaining from processes (detached mindfulness) vs. transforming content (acceptance, brief exposure). Fifty-six participants (M age = 21.5 yr., range = 18-42) were randomly assigned to detached mindfulness, acceptance, exposure, or a control group before watching a stressful film that induced intrusive images. Afterwards, they engaged in their respective strategies for 5 min. and the frequency of intrusive images was rated. Detached mindfulness was the only manipulation that was associated with a statistically significant lower frequency of intrusions than the control condition. It is argued that assessment of perceived skills to refrain from thinking should be conceptualized within a metacognitive framework that distinguish process- and content-oriented strategies and address the question: When is a strategy a true refrain?

Brief mindfulness training for negative affectivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

“…k + refers to the analyses where independence was violated by one or more studies being split into multiple studies based on having multiple conditions. These studies were split into multiple studies: Control Type (Arch & Craske, 2006; Broderick, 2005; Cassin et al, 2011; Cruess et al, 2015; Heppner et al, 2008; Hilt & Pollack, 2012; Hong et al, 2012; Hooper et al, 2011; Huffziger & Kuehner, 2009; Johnson et al, 2015; Keng et al, 2013; Kuehner et al, 2009; Laurent et al, 2014; Lee & Orsillo, 2014; Liu et al, 2012; Luethcke et al, 2011; Murphy & MacKillop, 2014; Nosen & Woody, 2013; Ortner & Zelazo, 2014; Ramos Diaz et al, 2014; Shikatani et al, 2014; Singer & Dobson, 2007; Ussher et al, 2009; Villa & Hilt, 2014; Vinci et al, 2014; Wells & Roussis, 2014; Zeidan et al, 2010b), Intervention Type (Ainsworth et al, 2013, 2015; Bonamo et al, 2014), Type of Mindfulness Training Exercise (Ainsworth et al, 2013, 2015; Bonamo et al, 2014), Time Point (Ainsworth et al, 2015; Alberts & Thewissen, 2011; Arch & Craske, 2006; Atkinson & Wade, 2012; Banks et al, 2015; Bowen & Marlatt, 2009; Broderick, 2005; Cropley et al, 2007; Cruess et al, 2015; Erisman & Roemer, 2010; Hilt & Pollak, 2012; Huffziger & Kuehner, 2009; Keng et al, 2013; Kuehner, 2009; Laurent et al, 2014; Marchiori & Papies, 2013; McClintock & Anderson, 2013; Ramos Diaz et al, 2014; Sauer & Baer, 2012; Shikatani et al, 2014; Ussher et al, 2009; Villa & Hilt, 2014; Vinci et al, 2014; Wahl et al, 2012).…”

“…Brief mindfulness training interventions have taken a number of forms, ranging from two-week programs (e.g., 10 minutes of guided at-home practice for 14 days: Cavanagh et al, 2013) to shorter, one-week interventions (e.g., two focused breathing inductions separated by seven days of at-home daily practice: Banks et al, 2015) to single-session inductions that are often lab-based (e.g., five minutes of guided mindfulness practice: Wells & Roussis, 2014). This meta-analysis examines the full range of brief mindfulness interventions and tests whether length of training moderates their efficacy.…”

“…6Four studies did not report the number of female participants (Cavanagh et al, 2013; Droit-Volet, Fanget, & Dambrun, 2015; Ortner & Zelazo, 2014; Wells & Roussis, 2014). …”

Stress in Post-Secondary: Toward an Understanding of Test-Anxiety, Cognitive Performance, and Brief Mindfulness Meditation

“…Briefer formats of MM may be more suitable for post-secondary students. Recent research has examined simplified versions of MM programs, such as one-session, one-week, and two-week sessions (Banks et al, 2015; see also Cavanagh et al, 2013;Wells & Roussis, 2014). Variance among the duration of previous brief MM studies may be attributed to the ambiguity surrounding the necessary minimal amount of time needed to achieve mindfulness.…”

Introduction of a New, Contemporary, and Developmentally Flexible Mindfulness Metaphor

“…For instance, according to the metacognitive model, extended and prolonged processing of self-relevant emotional information (e.g., via worry, rumination) are principal in the development and maintenance of psychological disorders [5,6]. Indeed, a study by Wells and Roussis [7] obtained preliminary evidence that specific instructions to disengage further processing and "stand back" (p.544) from thoughts may be effective in coping with intrusive thoughts.…”