Assessing treatments used to reduce rumination and/or worry: A systematic review

Abstract

Perseverative cognitions such as rumination and worry are key components of mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. Given the frequent comorbidity of conditions in which rumination and worry are present, it is possible they are underpinned by the same cognitive process. Furthermore, rumination and worry appear to be part of a causal chain that can lead to long-term health consequences, including cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions. It is important therefore to understand what interventions may be useful in reducing their incidence. This systematic review aimed to assess treatments used to reduce worry and/or rumination. As we were interested in understanding the current treatment landscape, we limited our search from 2002-2012. Nineteen studies were included in the review and were assessed for methodological quality and treatment integrity. Results suggested that mindfulness-based and cognitive behavioural interventions may be effective in the reduction of both rumination and worry; with both Internet-delivered and face-to-face delivered formats useful. More broadly, it appears that treatments in which participants are encouraged to change their thinking style, or to disengage from emotional response to rumination and/or worry (e.g., through mindful techniques), could be helpful. Implications for treatment and avenues for future research are discussed.

Repetitive negative thinking as a predictor of depression and anxiety: A longitudinal cohort study

“…A recent systematic review of treatments to reduce rumination and worry (Querstret and Cropley, 2013) showed that mindfulness-based and cognitive-behavioral interventions may be effective in the reduction of both rumination and worry. Moreover, rumination and worry have been identified as mechanisms of change in mindfulness-based therapies across various psychological outcomes (Gu et al, 2015).…”

Internet-based instructor-led mindfulness for work-related rumination, fatigue, and sleep: Assessing facets of mindfulness as mechanisms of change. A randomized waitlist control trial.

“…While this is the first study to consider the impact of a mindfulness intervention on work-related rumination, previous studies reported in the clinical literature have concluded that mindfulness is effective for the reduction of depressive rumination and worry (for review, see Querstret & Cropley, 2013); and as work-related rumination may share a similar cognitive process with these other forms of perseverative cognition (Brosschot et al, 2006), it would seem logical that a mindfulness intervention may be effective. In addition, previous research has shown that mindfulness interventions may also reduce occupational fatigue in the form of emotional exhaustion (Hulsheger et al, 2013) and burnout (Geller et al, 2010); and there is evidence from empirical studies (e.g., Wolever et al, 2012;Hulsheger et al, 2014;Hulsheger et al, 2015), and systematic reviews of the literature (for review, see Winbush, Gross, & Jreitzer, 2007) to suggest that mindfulness may positively affect sleep.…”

Does worry affect adjustment to bereavement? A longitudinal investigation

“…Accordingly, psychological interventions have been developed to effectively reduce repetitive thinking and associated psychopathology (for a review: Querstret & Cropley, 2013). Recently, cognitive-behavior therapy was demonstrated to be effective in reducing repetitive thought and prolonged grief after bereavement (Eisma et al, 2015a).…”