The Impact of Written Exposure on Worry

Abstract

The main goal of this study was to examine the effect of written exposure on generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)-related symptoms in high worriers. Thirty nonclinical high worriers were randomly assigned to either a written exposure condition or a control writing condition. Self-report measures were used to assess worry, GAD somatic symptoms, depression, and intolerance of uncertainty at four time points during the study. Using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM), the authors found that all symptoms (i.e., worry, GAD somatic symptoms, and depression) significantly decreased over time in the written exposure group (although GAD somatic symptoms also decreased in the control group). Moreover, consistent with previous findings that intolerance of uncertainty preceded changes in worry over the course of treatment, intolerance of uncertainty scores predicted subsequent scores on all symptom measures in the experimental group. In contrast, worry and depression scores predicted subsequent intolerance of uncertainty scores in the control group.

Current theoretical models of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): Conceptual review and treatment implications

“…IU has also been found to be independent of mood state (e.g., symptoms of anxiety or depression), an important indication of stability (Buhr & Dugas, 2002Dugas, Freeston, & Ladouceur, 1997). Finally, in a study examining the utility of a written exposure condition relative to a control writing condition, results suggested that improvements in worry were preceded by improvements in IU, suggesting that improvements in IU may be a key mediator for reducing worry (Goldman, Dugas, Sexton, & Gervais, 2007).…”

Changes in intolerance of uncertainty during cognitive behavior group therapy for social phobia

“…If IU is associated with the maintenance of anxiety disorders, IU should reduce following treatment. Reductions in IU have been reported during treatment for GAD and OCD with studies typically finding that reductions in IU were significantly correlated with improvements in core symptoms and occurred prior to, or concurrent with, major symptom improvement (Belloch et al, 2011;Goldman, Dugas, Sexton, & Gervais, 2007;Overton & Menzies, 2005). One study to date has explored IU within the context of social phobia treatment.…”

An experimental investigation of the role of negative mood in worry: The role of appraisals that facilitate systematic information processing

“…The PSWQ is typically considered a trait measure but is used frequently in clinical research contexts to demonstrate changes in selfperceived levels of worry (Borkovec & Costello, 1993;Goldman et al, 2007;Treanor et al, 2011). These results, somewhat surprisingly, indicate that short-term laboratory manipulations, such as mood inductions, can affect participants' responses to supposedly trait measures.…”

“…Although typically considered a trait measure, the PSWQ has been used as an outcome measure to assess changes in worrying after a variety of interventions (e.g. Borkovec & Costello, 1993;Goldman, Dugas, Sexton, & Gervais, 2007; Treanor, Erisman, Salters-Pedneault, Roemer, & Orsillo, 2011). Similarly, the PSWQ was used in the present study as an outcome measure across the mood induction groups.…”