Contrast Avoidance and Anxiety Sensitivity Mediate the Relationship Between Childhood Maltreatment and Psychological Distress in Young Adulthood.

Childhood maltreatment (CM) is associated with elevated depression and anxiety in young adulthood; however, there is a dearth of research identifying the intermediary pathways that link CM to these phenomena. The present study investigated two psychological factors-, sensitivity to and avoidance of sudden negative emotional shifts, and , the fear of arousal-related body sensations-as potential mediators of the relationship between CM and psychological distress in young adulthood. Our sample consisted of 280 undergraduate students who completed self-report measures of childhood maltreatment, anxiety sensitivity, contrast avoidance (i.

Different Psychological Processes in Traditional and ACT-Enhanced ERP for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has been shown to promote willingness to experience intrusive thoughts among individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Exposure with response prevention (ERP) delivered from an ACT framework (i.e.

The contribution of guilt sensitivity in the prediction of obsessive-compulsive disorder symptom dimensions: Replication and extension.

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with particular cognitive processes, such as beliefs about the importance of intrusive thoughts. The present study examined the explanatory power of guilt sensitivity to OCD symptom dimensions after controlling for well-established cognitive predictors.

Methods: 164 patients with OCD completed self-reported measures of OCD and depressive symptoms, obsessive beliefs, and guilt sensitivity.

Co-occurring depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder: A dimensional network approach.

Background: Depressive and obsessive-compulsive (OCD) symptoms often co-occur and a number of possible explanations for this co-occurrence have been explored, including shared biological and psychosocial risk factors. Network approaches have offered a novel hypothesis for the link between depression and OCD: functional inter-relationships across the symptoms of these conditions. The few network studies in this area have relied largely on item, rather than process-level constructs, and have not examined relationships dimensionally.

A pilot study on the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a brief text message intervention for co-occurring alcohol misuse and PTSD symptoms in a community sample.

Accessible, brief, and self-directed intervention are needed to improve treatment access for individuals with co-occuring PTSD and alcohol misuse. This pilot study tests the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a brief text message intervention based on cognitive behavioral therapy plus message framing (CBT + Framing) compared to active control providing kind support and attention (KAM), to reduce PTSD symptoms and alcohol use. Two waves of community-based data collection (Wave 1 n = 50; Wave 2 n = 59) were completed.

Predicting COVID-19-related anxiety: The role of obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions, anxiety sensitivity, and body vigilance.

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), first detected in December of 2019 and declared a global pandemic in March of 2020, continues to pose a serious threat to public health and safety worldwide. Many individuals report anxiety in response to this threat, and at high levels, such anxiety can result in adverse mental health outcomes and maladaptive behavioral responses that have consequences for the health of communities more broadly. Predictors of excessive anxiety in response to COVID-19 are understudied.

Refinement and Pilot Testing of a Brief, Early Intervention for PTSD and Alcohol Use Following Sexual Assault.

Experiencing a sexual assault can have long-lasting negative consequences including development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol misuse. Intervention provided in the initial weeks following assault can reduce the development of these chronic problems. This study describes the iterative treatment development process for refining a brief intervention targeting PTSD and alcohol misuse for women with recent sexual assault experiences.

Adherence to exposure and response prevention as a predictor of improvement in obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions.

Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is an effective treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD); yet, improvement rates vary and it is therefore important to examine potential predictors of outcome. The present study examined adherence with ERP homework as a predictor of (a) treatment response across OCD symptom dimensions and (b) reductions in psychological factors implicated in the maintenance of OCD. Fifty adults with OCD received manualized twice-weekly ERP as part of a treatment trial.

Social support predicts reductions in PTSD symptoms when substances are not used to cope: A longitudinal study of sexual assault survivors.

Background: After sexual assault, many college women develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and those who engage in substance use coping are at heightened risk for this outcome. Positively-perceived social support has been identified as an important protective factor against the development of PTSD, but received social support could involve problematic behaviors-like the encouragement of coping through use of alcohol and/or drugs-that could worsen symptoms.

Methods: In the current study, 147 undergraduate women with a lifetime history of sexual assault completed two waves of self-report measures assessing their symptoms.