TY - JOUR
T1 - Effectiveness of association splitting in reducing unwanted intrusive thoughts in a nonclinical sample
AU - Rodríguez-Martín, Boris C.
AU - Moritz, Steffen
AU - Molerio-Pérez, Osana
AU - Gil-Pérez, Patricia
PY - 2013/7
Y1 - 2013/7
N2 - Background: Association Splitting (AS) is a novel cognitive technique, which has shown some promise for the reduction of obsessive thoughts in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Its effect on unwanted intrusive thoughts (UITs) in the general population is yet unknown. Method: Our experimental study tested the effect of AS in 49 participants who reported UITs as a regular problem. Participants were randomly allocated either to an AS versus waitlist control (WL) condition. The White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI) was used for measuring changes over time. Results: Significant group differences were found across time. Relative to WL, AS exerted a positive effect on the reduction of UITs yielding a large effect size. According to self-report AS exerted a positive effect 6 days after the participants had initiated the exercises. All subjects in the AS condition judged the technique as effective Conclusion: Results suggest that AS could be a suitable intervention to help people with a potential vulnerability to a clinical problem to control their UITs.
AB - Background: Association Splitting (AS) is a novel cognitive technique, which has shown some promise for the reduction of obsessive thoughts in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Its effect on unwanted intrusive thoughts (UITs) in the general population is yet unknown. Method: Our experimental study tested the effect of AS in 49 participants who reported UITs as a regular problem. Participants were randomly allocated either to an AS versus waitlist control (WL) condition. The White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI) was used for measuring changes over time. Results: Significant group differences were found across time. Relative to WL, AS exerted a positive effect on the reduction of UITs yielding a large effect size. According to self-report AS exerted a positive effect 6 days after the participants had initiated the exercises. All subjects in the AS condition judged the technique as effective Conclusion: Results suggest that AS could be a suitable intervention to help people with a potential vulnerability to a clinical problem to control their UITs.
KW - association splitting
KW - thoughts suppression
KW - Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts
KW - White Bear Suppression Inventory
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84884580164&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S1352465812000513
DO - 10.1017/S1352465812000513
M3 - Article
C2 - 22874829
AN - SCOPUS:84884580164
VL - 41
SP - 433
EP - 440
JO - Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
JF - Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
SN - 1352-4658
IS - 4
ER -