No description available.

Self-control exertion leads to performance decrements during tasks demanding of muscular and cardiovascular systems (Bray et al., 2008; Marcora et al., 2009). Several reviews have also implicated self-control depletion with the psychobiological state of fatigue (Hagger et al., 2010; Van Cutsem et al., 2017). In this state, individuals have also been noted to report higher levels of perceived exertion when exercising at vigorous intensities (MacMahon et al., 2014; Marcora et al., 2009; Wagstaff et al., 2014). The purpose of this study was to investigate physical performance and ratings of perceived exertion during a self-paced maximum distance cycling trial (MDT) following a short bout of mentally-fatiguing cognitive activity (thought-suppression). Recreationally active participants (N = 16, Mage = 20.94) completed one familiarization session and two testing sessions. All visits were separated by ≥ 72-hours. Control and experimental trials were counterbalanced, with either a 6-minute bout of thought-logging (control) or a 6-minute bout of thought-suppression (experimental) being performed prior to each respective MDT. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were solicited from participants across three sensory domains relevant to MDT task performance (Leg-muscle, Respiration, Mental). Thought-suppression was perceived to be significantly more demanding than the control task, which resulted in significantly higher ratings of mental fatigue (p = 0.04, 2 = 0.26). Distance travelled on the MDT was not significantly different following thought suppression, relative to control trials (p = 0.84, 2 = 0.00). Similarly, a repeated-measures ANOVA showed no differences in HR between conditions (p = 0.95, 2 = 0.00). Despite these similarities, ratings of perceived leg-muscle exertion (RPE-L) were significantly higher during the MDT following thought-suppression (p = 0.05, 2 = 0.24). RPE-R (respiration) and RPE-M (mental) ratings also trended towards higher scores following the experimental manipulation, although they did not differ significantly. RPE-L was perceived to be significantly higher than both RPE-R and RPE-M in both conditions on the MDT (ps < 0.05). RPE-M was rated significantly lower than RPE-L and RPE-R during MDTs in both conditions (ps < 0.05). Results indicate that performing a demanding self-control exertion task for a short duration leads to increased feelings of mental fatigue. The observed levels of fatigue were also associated with higher than normal ratings of perceived exertion during cycling tasks of equal demands and performance. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Any thought, emotion or behaviour that an individual modifies in order to better suit their goals occurs as a result of self-control exertion. Research indicates that just like the exertion of muscular strength, exerting self-control impacts subsequent attempts to do so. Using a mentally-demanding task, we induced states of self-control depletion which left individuals feeling mentally-fatigued. As a result of this state, participants needed to exert themselves harder in order to complete a task that was perceived less demanding, when non-fatigued.

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Diagnostik unerwünschter Gedanken sowie der Spezifität von Gedankenunterdrückung bei phobischen Patienten. Zwei Fragebogenverfahren zum Thema Sorgen sowie ein Instrument zur Erfassung von Strategien im Umgang mit intrusiven Gedanken wurden bezüglich der Gütekriterien der deutschen Übersetzung in einer klinischen Stichprobe evaluiert. Dabei handelt es sich um den Worry Domains Questionnaire (WDQ), der Sorgeninhalte erhebt, den Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), der die Intensität von Sorgen erfasst, und den Thought Control Questionnaire (TCQ) zur Erfassung der Gedankenkontrollstrategien. Die Verfahren wurden bei 440 Psychotherapie-Patienten zu drei Meßzeitpunkten eingesetzt. Hinsichtlich der inneren Konsistenz und der Retest-Reliabilität ergeben sich für alle Instrumente zufriedenstellende bis gute Kennwerte. Die Validität ist nur für den PSWQ als gut zu bezeichnen. Beim WDQ zeigen sich Probleme hinsichtlich der Trennung von Sorgen und sozialer Ängstlichkeit, während der TCQ wohl eher Aspekte allgemeiner Psychopathologie als spezifische Strategien erfasst. Eine zweite Studie befasste sich mit intentionaler Gedankenunterdrückung. Die paradoxen Effekte dieser Bemühungen wurden wiederholt mit psychischen Störungen, vor allem mit Angststörungen, in Verbindung gebracht. Dabei ist ein wichtiges Thema, ob die Gedankenkontrollfähigkeit nur für störungsspezifische Inhalte oder generell beeinträchtigt ist. Die vorliegende Studie verglich Patienten mit Agoraphobie und Patienten mit Sozialphobie mit einer gesunden Kontrollgruppe. Alle Personen mussten Gedanken an ein neutrales Kontrollthema sowie zwei störungsspezifische Themen unterdrücken. Es zeigte sich ein störungsspezifischer Effekt bei den Agoraphobikern. Sozialphobiker scheinen hingegen ein generelles Defizit ihrer mentalen Kontrolle aufzuweisen. Zusätzlich erwies sich soziale Ängstlickeit innerhalb einer Reihe psychopathologischer Variablen als stärkster Prädikator für Schwierigkeiten bei der Gedankenunterdrückung. Ingesamt weisen einige Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit darauf hin, dass Gedankenunterdrückung ein wichtiges Merkmal der Sozialphobie sein könnte. / The work conducted aimed at evaluating instruments investigating unwanted thoughts as well as determining the specifity of thought suppression in phobia. German translations of two questionnaires measuring worry as well as an instrument, measuring strategies used in dealing with unwanted thoughts, were evaluated in a clinical sample. We used the Worry Domains Questionnaire (WDQ), measuring contents of worry, the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), measuring the intensity of worry, and the Thought Control Questionnaire (TCQ), investigating strategies in thought control. The instruments were administered at three points in a sample of 440 patients receiving psychological treatment. Concerning internal consistency and retest-reliability all questionnaires showed acceptable to good results. Validity is only good concerning PSWQ. WDQ has problems in differentiating worry and social anxiety, where as TCQ seems to measure general psychopathology more than specific strategies. The second study investigated intended thought suppression. Its paradoxical effects have been linked to psychological disorders, namely anxiety disorders. One important issue is if thought suppression is impaired only for thoughts related to the disorder or if the ability for mental control is generally impaired in anxiety patients. This study compared groups of agoraphobics and social phobics with healthy controls. All subjects had to suppress a neutral topic and two topics related to the central fear of the two disorders. We found a rather specific deficit in thought suppression for the agoraphobics. Social phobics seem to be characterized by a general impairment of mental control. In addition, among several psychopathological variables, social anxiety proved to be the strongest predictor for problems with thought suppression. Taken together, there are several indicators that thought suppression may be an important feature of social phobia.

No description available.

Background: Worry exposure (WE) is a core element of cognitive-behavioral treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Its efficacy as a stand-alone treatment method (without further cognitive-behavioral therapy interventions) has never been tested.We aimed to examine whether WE alone is as efficacious as the empirically supported stand-alone treatment for GAD, applied relaxation (AR). Methods: In a randomized controlled study, 73 outpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria for GAD as primary diagnosis were allocated to either WE or AR or a waiting list control group; in a 2nd randomization procedure the waiting list subjects were reallocated to WE or AR. The treatment was manualized (15 sessions with WE or AR), included 6-month and 1-year follow-ups, as well as last observation carried forward and completer analyses, and was controlled for allegiance effects.The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Scale were used as primary outcome measures. Self-report scales of anxiety, worrying and depression including negative metacognition about worrying and thought suppression served as secondary outcome measures. Results: The dropout rate was moderate. The pre-/posttreatment effects were high for the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (standardized mean difference >1) and for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (standardized mean difference >0.87). The proportion of patients reaching high end state functioning was 48% (WE) and 56% (AR). WE and AR did not differ with regard to dropout rate or treatment effects. The treatment effects were stable at 6 month and 1 year follow-up. Conclusion: This is the first study to show that a stand-alone exposure in sensu technique – WE – is efficacious in the treatment of GAD. Both AR and WE seem to represent effective principles of change in GAD. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Diagnostik unerwünschter Gedanken sowie der Spezifität von Gedankenunterdrückung bei phobischen Patienten. Zwei Fragebogenverfahren zum Thema Sorgen sowie ein Instrument zur Erfassung von Strategien im Umgang mit intrusiven Gedanken wurden bezüglich der Gütekriterien der deutschen Übersetzung in einer klinischen Stichprobe evaluiert. Dabei handelt es sich um den Worry Domains Questionnaire (WDQ), der Sorgeninhalte erhebt, den Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), der die Intensität von Sorgen erfasst, und den Thought Control Questionnaire (TCQ) zur Erfassung der Gedankenkontrollstrategien. Die Verfahren wurden bei 440 Psychotherapie-Patienten zu drei Meßzeitpunkten eingesetzt. Hinsichtlich der inneren Konsistenz und der Retest-Reliabilität ergeben sich für alle Instrumente zufriedenstellende bis gute Kennwerte. Die Validität ist nur für den PSWQ als gut zu bezeichnen. Beim WDQ zeigen sich Probleme hinsichtlich der Trennung von Sorgen und sozialer Ängstlichkeit, während der TCQ wohl eher Aspekte allgemeiner Psychopathologie als spezifische Strategien erfasst. Eine zweite Studie befasste sich mit intentionaler Gedankenunterdrückung. Die paradoxen Effekte dieser Bemühungen wurden wiederholt mit psychischen Störungen, vor allem mit Angststörungen, in Verbindung gebracht. Dabei ist ein wichtiges Thema, ob die Gedankenkontrollfähigkeit nur für störungsspezifische Inhalte oder generell beeinträchtigt ist. Die vorliegende Studie verglich Patienten mit Agoraphobie und Patienten mit Sozialphobie mit einer gesunden Kontrollgruppe. Alle Personen mussten Gedanken an ein neutrales Kontrollthema sowie zwei störungsspezifische Themen unterdrücken. Es zeigte sich ein störungsspezifischer Effekt bei den Agoraphobikern. Sozialphobiker scheinen hingegen ein generelles Defizit ihrer mentalen Kontrolle aufzuweisen. Zusätzlich erwies sich soziale Ängstlickeit innerhalb einer Reihe psychopathologischer Variablen als stärkster Prädikator für Schwierigkeiten bei der Gedankenunterdrückung. Ingesamt weisen einige Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit darauf hin, dass Gedankenunterdrückung ein wichtiges Merkmal der Sozialphobie sein könnte. / The work conducted aimed at evaluating instruments investigating unwanted thoughts as well as determining the specifity of thought suppression in phobia. German translations of two questionnaires measuring worry as well as an instrument, measuring strategies used in dealing with unwanted thoughts, were evaluated in a clinical sample. We used the Worry Domains Questionnaire (WDQ), measuring contents of worry, the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), measuring the intensity of worry, and the Thought Control Questionnaire (TCQ), investigating strategies in thought control. The instruments were administered at three points in a sample of 440 patients receiving psychological treatment. Concerning internal consistency and retest-reliability all questionnaires showed acceptable to good results. Validity is only good concerning PSWQ. WDQ has problems in differentiating worry and social anxiety, where as TCQ seems to measure general psychopathology more than specific strategies. The second study investigated intended thought suppression. Its paradoxical effects have been linked to psychological disorders, namely anxiety disorders. One important issue is if thought suppression is impaired only for thoughts related to the disorder or if the ability for mental control is generally impaired in anxiety patients. This study compared groups of agoraphobics and social phobics with healthy controls. All subjects had to suppress a neutral topic and two topics related to the central fear of the two disorders. We found a rather specific deficit in thought suppression for the agoraphobics. Social phobics seem to be characterized by a general impairment of mental control. In addition, among several psychopathological variables, social anxiety proved to be the strongest predictor for problems with thought suppression. Taken together, there are several indicators that thought suppression may be an important feature of social phobia.

Background: Worry exposure (WE) is a core element of cognitive-behavioral treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Its efficacy as a stand-alone treatment method (without further cognitive-behavioral therapy interventions) has never been tested.We aimed to examine whether WE alone is as efficacious as the empirically supported stand-alone treatment for GAD, applied relaxation (AR). Methods: In a randomized controlled study, 73 outpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria for GAD as primary diagnosis were allocated to either WE or AR or a waiting list control group; in a 2nd randomization procedure the waiting list subjects were reallocated to WE or AR. The treatment was manualized (15 sessions with WE or AR), included 6-month and 1-year follow-ups, as well as last observation carried forward and completer analyses, and was controlled for allegiance effects.The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Scale were used as primary outcome measures. Self-report scales of anxiety, worrying and depression including negative metacognition about worrying and thought suppression served as secondary outcome measures. Results: The dropout rate was moderate. The pre-/posttreatment effects were high for the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (standardized mean difference >1) and for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (standardized mean difference >0.87). The proportion of patients reaching high end state functioning was 48% (WE) and 56% (AR). WE and AR did not differ with regard to dropout rate or treatment effects. The treatment effects were stable at 6 month and 1 year follow-up. Conclusion: This is the first study to show that a stand-alone exposure in sensu technique – WE – is efficacious in the treatment of GAD. Both AR and WE seem to represent effective principles of change in GAD. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.