This study investigated whether non-clinical high-schizotypal adults exhibit pragmatic language impairments like those observed in schizophrenia patients. 664 participants completed a novel metaphor comprehension task designed to assess three types of interpretations: figurative, literal, and concrete, alongside the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). Findings reveal that individuals with high SPQ scores show significant difficulties in understanding metaphors, aligning with patterns seen in schizophrenia. Errors predominantly favored literal and concrete interpretations. The study emphasizes the importance of utilizing novel metaphors to measure the ability to process figurative language, as lexicalized metaphors may only reflect associative thinking rather than true comprehension.
{"title":"Novel metaphor processing in high and low schizotypal individuals","authors":"Lara Fernandes , Giulia Olyff , Justine Bruxelmane , Loïc Le Nadan , Sandrine Detandt , Ariane Bazan","doi":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102070","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102070","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated whether non-clinical high-schizotypal adults exhibit pragmatic language impairments like those observed in schizophrenia patients. 664 participants completed a novel metaphor comprehension task designed to assess three types of interpretations: figurative, literal, and concrete, alongside the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). Findings reveal that individuals with high SPQ scores show significant difficulties in understanding metaphors, aligning with patterns seen in schizophrenia. Errors predominantly favored literal and concrete interpretations. The study emphasizes the importance of utilizing novel metaphors to measure the ability to process figurative language, as lexicalized metaphors may only reflect associative thinking rather than true comprehension.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48198,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 102070"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145253395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102071
Laurens T. Kemp , Tom Smeets , Anita Jansen , Katrijn Houben
While studying appetitive and aversive conditioning is common in psychopathology research, studies that measure both types of learning simultaneously are rare. To gain insight into the role of appetitive and aversive learning in the complex interaction of positive mood, negative mood, worry, craving, avoidance and impulsive behavior, this study used a relative measure of the strength of appetitive versus aversive learning – the learning asymmetry – as a predictor of network dynamics of mood states and behavior. 100 healthy volunteers performed an appetitive and aversive conditioning task and completed an ecological momentary assessment study, where they were surveyed six times per day for 21 days. Groups were defined based on higher sensitivity to appetitive learning (positive learning asymmetry) or aversive learning (negative learning asymmetry). The positive asymmetry group was hypothesized to be more sensitive to positive mood changes, and the negative asymmetry group was hypothesized to be more sensitive to negative mood changes. Contrary to our hypothesis, results show that impulsive behavior was more likely to follow negative mood, specifically anger, in the positive but not the negative asymmetry group. These results demonstrate the potential for network analysis to elucidate complex interactions between mood and behavior associated with individual differences in learning.
{"title":"Learning asymmetry as a predictor of mood and behavior dynamics: A network analysis","authors":"Laurens T. Kemp , Tom Smeets , Anita Jansen , Katrijn Houben","doi":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102071","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102071","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>While studying appetitive and aversive conditioning is common in psychopathology research, studies that measure both types of learning simultaneously are rare. To gain insight into the role of appetitive and aversive learning in the complex interaction of positive mood, negative mood, worry, craving, avoidance and impulsive behavior, this study used a relative measure of the strength of appetitive versus aversive learning – the learning asymmetry – as a predictor of network dynamics of mood states and behavior. 100 healthy volunteers performed an appetitive and aversive conditioning task and completed an ecological momentary assessment study, where they were surveyed six times per day for 21 days. Groups were defined based on higher sensitivity to appetitive learning (positive learning asymmetry) or aversive learning (negative learning asymmetry). The positive asymmetry group was hypothesized to be more sensitive to positive mood changes, and the negative asymmetry group was hypothesized to be more sensitive to negative mood changes. Contrary to our hypothesis, results show that impulsive behavior was more likely to follow negative mood, specifically anger, in the positive but not the negative asymmetry group. These results demonstrate the potential for network analysis to elucidate complex interactions between mood and behavior associated with individual differences in learning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48198,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 102071"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145245712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-08-22DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102068
M. Pelzer , C. Ouellet-Courtois , S. Krause , A. Coughtrey , J. Fink-Lamotte
Background
Perceiving a threat as constantly evolving, coming closer and escalating quickly can result in looming vulnerability (LV). LV may be a distal factor in contamination-based OCD (C-OCD) influencing disorder-specific mechanisms such as disgust. The aim of this study was to gain knowledge about three components of LV: speed, proximity and acceleration, and their influence on the relationship between disgust and C-OCD symptoms.
Methods
119 participants with subclinical C-OCD symptoms imagined four out of seven versions of a disgusting bathroom scene, varying in speed (slow/fast), proximity (farther away/closer), and acceleration (constant/exponential). These six dynamic conditions were compared to a static description. T-tests and a Bayesian multilevel model were used to assess differences in perceived dynamics of threat, disgust responses, and to examine the moderating role of C-OCD symptoms on responses to the experimental conditions.
Results
Threats in the dynamic conditions were perceived as significantly faster, closer, and more accelerated than in the static version. A difference within dynamic dimensions only emerged between the farther away and closer conditions. The Bayesian model showed a moderating effect of C-OCD symptoms leading to higher levels of disgust in the dynamic conditions, but not within the static condition.
Limitations
Without baseline disgust and LV measures, the specific contributions to disgust and LV for each condition remain unclear.
Conclusion
By showing that imagining dynamic contamination only elicits stronger disgust in individuals with higher C-OCD symptoms, the results support the idea of LV as a distal factor influencing symptom-maintaining factors in C-OCD such as disgust.
{"title":"Obsessive-compulsive symptoms moderate the effect of contamination motion on disgust intensity","authors":"M. Pelzer , C. Ouellet-Courtois , S. Krause , A. Coughtrey , J. Fink-Lamotte","doi":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102068","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102068","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Perceiving a threat as constantly evolving, coming closer and escalating quickly can result in looming vulnerability (LV). LV may be a distal factor in contamination-based OCD (C-OCD) influencing disorder-specific mechanisms such as disgust. The aim of this study was to gain knowledge about three components of LV: speed, proximity and acceleration, and their influence on the relationship between disgust and C-OCD symptoms.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>119 participants with subclinical C-OCD symptoms imagined four out of seven versions of a disgusting bathroom scene, varying in speed (slow/fast), proximity (farther away/closer), and acceleration (constant/exponential). These six dynamic conditions were compared to a static description. T-tests and a Bayesian multilevel model were used to assess differences in perceived dynamics of threat, disgust responses, and to examine the moderating role of C-OCD symptoms on responses to the experimental conditions.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Threats in the dynamic conditions were perceived as significantly faster, closer, and more accelerated than in the static version. A difference within dynamic dimensions only emerged between the farther away and closer conditions. The Bayesian model showed a moderating effect of C-OCD symptoms leading to higher levels of disgust in the dynamic conditions, but not within the static condition.</div></div><div><h3>Limitations</h3><div>Without baseline disgust and LV measures, the specific contributions to disgust and LV for each condition remain unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>By showing that imagining dynamic contamination only elicits stronger disgust in individuals with higher C-OCD symptoms, the results support the idea of LV as a distal factor influencing symptom-maintaining factors in C-OCD such as disgust.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48198,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 102068"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144894950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-10-09DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102072
Noboru Matsumoto , Yudai Iijima , Mingming Lin , Yuki Nishiguchi , Keisuke Takano , Filip Raes
Depressive rumination is characterized by repetitive dwelling on one or more self-relevant, past-oriented topics. However, little empirical evidence links depressive rumination to the perseveration of specific themes in autobiographical memory (AM) retrieval. This study examined whether ruminators are more likely to retrieve semantically overlapping AMs across different times and locations using the experience sampling method (ESM). Participants (N = 58 Japanese-speaking university students) generated AMs in response to negative and positive cues three times daily for seven days. In total, 3063 AMs were collected and analyzed. For each participant, we computed cosine similarity to quantify semantic overlap among the reported AMs. The results indicated that individuals with higher levels of rumination exhibited greater semantic overlap among negative AMs (r = 0.33), suggesting that ruminators’ AMs tended to revolve around similar topics and themes across different cues and assessment occasions. These findings suggest that semantic overlap serves as an underlying mechanism of depressive rumination (and vice versa), wherein different cues activate a specific network that encodes similar or identical negative memory representations.
{"title":"Semantic similarity among autobiographical memories is associated with rumination","authors":"Noboru Matsumoto , Yudai Iijima , Mingming Lin , Yuki Nishiguchi , Keisuke Takano , Filip Raes","doi":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102072","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102072","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Depressive rumination is characterized by repetitive dwelling on one or more self-relevant, past-oriented topics. However, little empirical evidence links depressive rumination to the perseveration of specific themes in autobiographical memory (AM) retrieval. This study examined whether ruminators are more likely to retrieve semantically overlapping AMs across different times and locations using the experience sampling method (ESM). Participants (<em>N</em> = 58 Japanese-speaking university students) generated AMs in response to negative and positive cues three times daily for seven days. In total, 3063 AMs were collected and analyzed. For each participant, we computed cosine similarity to quantify semantic overlap among the reported AMs. The results indicated that individuals with higher levels of rumination exhibited greater semantic overlap among negative AMs (<em>r</em> = 0.33), suggesting that ruminators’ AMs tended to revolve around similar topics and themes across different cues and assessment occasions. These findings suggest that semantic overlap serves as an underlying mechanism of depressive rumination (and vice versa), wherein different cues activate a specific network that encodes similar or identical negative memory representations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48198,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 102072"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145266059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-08-31DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102069
Robin.P.A. van der Linde , Nathan. Bachrach , Paul. Lodder , Marleen. Rijkeboer , Rafaële.J.C. Huntjens
This study explored the relationships between dissociative experiences, childhood trauma, maladaptive schemas, schema modes, and schema coping in a nonclinical sample. Three theoretical models were tested: (1) dissociative experiences resulting from schema mode activation, (2) dissociative experiences as an innate trait shaping schema coping, and (3) dissociative experiences arising from childhood trauma that influence coping strategies. Data from 401 Dutch psychology students were analyzed using path analyses to compare model fit. While all models showed good fit, Model 2 emerged as the best based on AIC and BIC values. This model linked dissociative experiences to avoidance and surrender coping styles and specific schema modes, such as the punitive parent and detached self-soother. Findings suggest dissociative experiences shape responses to schema-related stress through disengagement or immersion. Future research in clinical populations is recommended to further explore these dynamics and their therapeutic relevance.
{"title":"Exploring the links between dissociative experiences, schemas, modes, and coping","authors":"Robin.P.A. van der Linde , Nathan. Bachrach , Paul. Lodder , Marleen. Rijkeboer , Rafaële.J.C. Huntjens","doi":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102069","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102069","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explored the relationships between dissociative experiences, childhood trauma, maladaptive schemas, schema modes, and schema coping in a nonclinical sample. Three theoretical models were tested: (1) dissociative experiences resulting from schema mode activation, (2) dissociative experiences as an innate trait shaping schema coping, and (3) dissociative experiences arising from childhood trauma that influence coping strategies. Data from 401 Dutch psychology students were analyzed using path analyses to compare model fit. While all models showed good fit, Model 2 emerged as the best based on AIC and BIC values. This model linked dissociative experiences to avoidance and surrender coping styles and specific schema modes, such as the punitive parent and detached self-soother. Findings suggest dissociative experiences shape responses to schema-related stress through disengagement or immersion. Future research in clinical populations is recommended to further explore these dynamics and their therapeutic relevance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48198,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 102069"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144926494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-10-26DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102075
L.T. Kemp , T. Smeets , A. Jansen , K. Houben
{"title":"Corrigendum to “Aversive conditioning is impaired in impulsive individuals: A study on learning asymmetries” [Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 83 (2024) 101939]","authors":"L.T. Kemp , T. Smeets , A. Jansen , K. Houben","doi":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102075","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102075","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48198,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 102075"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145379446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-11-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102074
Duygu Yakın , Julia Uijttewaal , Puk Plooij , Gitta A. Jacob , Christopher W. Lee , Odette Manon Brand-de Wilde , Eva Fassbinder , R. Patrick Harper , Anna Lavender , George Lockwood , Ioannis A. Malogiannis , Florian A. Ruths , Ida A. Shaw , Gerhard Zarbock , Joan M. Farrell , Arnoud Arntz
Objective
Schema modes have been theorized and tested as mechanisms of change in the treatment of personality disorders. We investigated whether schema modes also function as mechanisms of change in borderline personality disorder (BPD) treatment.
Method
Data from 494 patients (N = 68 male, N = 426 female) with borderline PD who participated in an international randomized clinical trial on effectiveness of two group schema therapy formats vs treatment as usual were analyzed. Granger Causality was tested partially replicating the model predicting PD severity as derived in Yakın et al. (2020) with generalized linear mixed models, testing within-person relationships over time.
Results
The effect of the Healthy Adult, the Vulnerable Child and Detached Self-Soother as an Avoidant Coping mode on PD severity, and the reciprocal relationship between the Healthy Adult and the Vulnerable Child were replicated. Unlike previous findings, the Avoidant Coping mode is not predicted by the Healthy Adult. Moreover, the relationship between Impulsive Child and PD severity was unidirectional. The relationships between Healthy Adult, Self-Aggrandizer, and functioning over time were also replicated, but unlike earlier results, Self-Aggrandizer did not influence later scores of the Healthy Adult.
Conclusions
Central relationships in the model were replicated. The centrality of the Healthy Adult and the Vulnerable Child for the treatment of PDs was also applicable to BPD. It appears that these two modes should be primary treatment targets compared to the other modes, unless the avoidant modes block access to the more vulnerable parts of the personality.
{"title":"Schema modes as mechanisms of change in treating borderline personality disorder: A model replication study","authors":"Duygu Yakın , Julia Uijttewaal , Puk Plooij , Gitta A. Jacob , Christopher W. Lee , Odette Manon Brand-de Wilde , Eva Fassbinder , R. Patrick Harper , Anna Lavender , George Lockwood , Ioannis A. Malogiannis , Florian A. Ruths , Ida A. Shaw , Gerhard Zarbock , Joan M. Farrell , Arnoud Arntz","doi":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102074","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102074","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Schema modes have been theorized and tested as mechanisms of change in the treatment of personality disorders. We investigated whether schema modes also function as mechanisms of change in borderline personality disorder (BPD) treatment.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Data from 494 patients (N = 68 male, N = 426 female) with borderline PD who participated in an international randomized clinical trial on effectiveness of two group schema therapy formats vs treatment as usual were analyzed. Granger Causality was tested partially replicating the model predicting PD severity as derived in Yakın et al. (2020) with generalized linear mixed models, testing within-person relationships over time.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The effect of the Healthy Adult, the Vulnerable Child and Detached Self-Soother as an Avoidant Coping mode on PD severity, and the reciprocal relationship between the Healthy Adult and the Vulnerable Child were replicated. Unlike previous findings, the Avoidant Coping mode is not predicted by the Healthy Adult. Moreover, the relationship between Impulsive Child and PD severity was unidirectional. The relationships between Healthy Adult, Self-Aggrandizer, and functioning over time were also replicated, but unlike earlier results, Self-Aggrandizer did not influence later scores of the Healthy Adult.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Central relationships in the model were replicated. The centrality of the Healthy Adult and the Vulnerable Child for the treatment of PDs was also applicable to BPD. It appears that these two modes should be primary treatment targets compared to the other modes, unless the avoidant modes block access to the more vulnerable parts of the personality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48198,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 102074"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145566059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-07-24DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102050
Yingyixue Lei, Anton Martinez, Vyv Huddy, Jayne Morriss, Lyn Ellett, Richard Bentall
Paranoia, often associated with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, also exists on a continuum with ordinary mistrust and is prevalent in non-clinical populations. Recent research suggests that Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU), a dispositional trait reflecting a negative response to uncertainty, may play a significant role in predicting paranoia. This study aimed to examine the longitudinal relationship between IU and paranoia, using data from the Covid-19 Psychological Research Consortium Study (C19PRC). 2025 participants representative of the UK population were recruited and assessed across three waves over nine months. Path analysis revealed that IU consistently predicted paranoia over time, even after controlling for negative affective traits such as neuroticism, and common co-occurring symptoms such as anxiety, and depression. Partial correlation analyses revealed stronger relationships between paranoia and Inhibitory IU than Prospective IU. These findings suggest that IU is a stable and independent predictor of paranoia. This study extends previous cross-sectional research by providing longitudinal evidence of associations between IU and paranoia and suggests that IU may represent a promising target for future research on intervention strategies.
{"title":"Intolerance of uncertainty predicts paranoia over time: Evidence from a UK sample.","authors":"Yingyixue Lei, Anton Martinez, Vyv Huddy, Jayne Morriss, Lyn Ellett, Richard Bentall","doi":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102050","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102050","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Paranoia, often associated with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, also exists on a continuum with ordinary mistrust and is prevalent in non-clinical populations. Recent research suggests that Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU), a dispositional trait reflecting a negative response to uncertainty, may play a significant role in predicting paranoia. This study aimed to examine the longitudinal relationship between IU and paranoia, using data from the Covid-19 Psychological Research Consortium Study (C19PRC). 2025 participants representative of the UK population were recruited and assessed across three waves over nine months. Path analysis revealed that IU consistently predicted paranoia over time, even after controlling for negative affective traits such as neuroticism, and common co-occurring symptoms such as anxiety, and depression. Partial correlation analyses revealed stronger relationships between paranoia and Inhibitory IU than Prospective IU. These findings suggest that IU is a stable and independent predictor of paranoia. This study extends previous cross-sectional research by providing longitudinal evidence of associations between IU and paranoia and suggests that IU may represent a promising target for future research on intervention strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":48198,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry","volume":"89 ","pages":"102050"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144812587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-08-23DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102057
Steffen Moritz , Lara Wille , Anja S. Göritz , Tana Gabbert , Rose Doherty , Ryan Balzan , Jakob Scheunemann
Background and objectives
Jumping to conclusions (JTC) is the most widely researched cognitive bias in schizophrenia. Notwithstanding meta-analyses demonstrating a higher level of JTC across the psychosis spectrum, important research questions remain unanswered. First, whether JTC is a primary process or in part an epiphenomenon reflecting contributions of other variables is still unresolved, which may explain why interventions targeting cognitive biases are effective on positive symptoms but less so on reducing JTC. Secondly, the beads task, the traditional procedure to capture JTC, is a complex procedure prone to misunderstanding and vulnerable to inattentive and careless responding. In this study, we tested a video assessment of the beads task aiming to reduce errors due to misunderstanding and to gain more insight into the processes contributing to JTC.
Methods
A sample of 801 participants from the general population was divided into various levels of paranoid ideation, based on cut-off criteria. The newly developed video JTC task, which is available at no cost at https://clinical-neuropsychology.de/jtc/, was presented online, as were the Revised Green et al. Paranoid Thoughts Scale (R-GPTS) and other psychological scales that served to separate individuals scoring high versus low on paranoia.
Results
As hypothesized, participants scoring high on both the ideas of social reference and persecution subscales of the R-GPTS showed more JTC than those with lower scores. Yet, a large number of participants (24 %) made illogical responses or showed signs of careless performance. Important contributors to JTC were lack of motivation, skipping some of the instructions, and speeding through the trials. Yet, significant differences remained when these influences were accounted for with matched samples.
Conclusions
While the newly developed video task was able to confirm elevated JTC in individuals scoring higher on paranoid ideation, core problems seen in prior versions of the beads task remain. Researchers are advised to develop alternative tests, preferably ones that allow repeated measurement. Our results indicate that JTC is a multi-causal bias that is unlikely to be explained by a single cognitive or psychopathological process.
{"title":"On the multi-causal nature of jumping to conclusions in psychosis","authors":"Steffen Moritz , Lara Wille , Anja S. Göritz , Tana Gabbert , Rose Doherty , Ryan Balzan , Jakob Scheunemann","doi":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102057","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102057","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and objectives</h3><div>Jumping to conclusions (JTC) is the most widely researched cognitive bias in schizophrenia. Notwithstanding meta-analyses demonstrating a higher level of JTC across the psychosis spectrum, important research questions remain unanswered. First, whether JTC is a primary process or in part an epiphenomenon reflecting contributions of other variables is still unresolved, which may explain why interventions targeting cognitive biases are effective on positive symptoms but less so on reducing JTC. Secondly, the beads task, the traditional procedure to capture JTC, is a complex procedure prone to misunderstanding and vulnerable to inattentive and careless responding. In this study, we tested a video assessment of the beads task aiming to reduce errors due to misunderstanding and to gain more insight into the processes contributing to JTC.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A sample of 801 participants from the general population was divided into various levels of paranoid ideation, based on cut-off criteria. The newly developed video JTC task, which is available at no cost at <span><span>https://clinical-neuropsychology.de/jtc/</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>, was presented online, as were the Revised Green et al. Paranoid Thoughts Scale (R-GPTS) and other psychological scales that served to separate individuals scoring high versus low on paranoia.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>As hypothesized, participants scoring high on both the ideas of social reference and persecution subscales of the R-GPTS showed more JTC than those with lower scores. Yet, a large number of participants (24 %) made illogical responses or showed signs of careless performance. Important contributors to JTC were lack of motivation, skipping some of the instructions, and speeding through the trials. Yet, significant differences remained when these influences were accounted for with matched samples.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>While the newly developed video task was able to confirm elevated JTC in individuals scoring higher on paranoid ideation, core problems seen in prior versions of the beads task remain. Researchers are advised to develop alternative tests, preferably ones that allow repeated measurement. Our results indicate that JTC is a multi-causal bias that is unlikely to be explained by a single cognitive or psychopathological process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48198,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry","volume":"89 ","pages":"Article 102057"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144889034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-04-17DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102037
Chloe Bowles , Rachel White , Colette R. Hirsch , Karina Wahl
Background and objectives
Evidence suggests that repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is underpinned by interpretation bias which is heightened among individuals with OCD. Cognitive bias modification for interpretation training (CBM-I) may reduce RNT by modifying interpretation bias which could reduce OCD symptoms. This study evaluated novel scenarios in terms of appropriateness and validity for use in a future CBM-I study targeting OCD-related RNT. This included analysis of the associations between interpretation bias and OCD symptoms, RNT, and OCD-specific rumination, respectively.
Methods
Forty-four novel CBM-I scenarios targeting RNT in OCD were developed based on clinical expertise and interviews of people with lived experience. A general population sample ( = 167) completed the missing word at the end of each scenario to resolve ambiguity. This provided a measure of interpretation bias, and item-level data on the materials’ ability to assess negative and benign interpretations. Participants also completed measures of OCD symptoms, general RNT and OCD-specific rumination.
Results
Most scenarios displayed strong item discrimination coefficients, and well-balanced valence of interpretation responses, with minimal improvements required for future use. Interpretation bias was moderately positively correlated with OCD symptoms, RNT, and OCD-specific rumination, indicating good criterion validity.
Limitations
The order of CBM-I scenarios was not randomised which may have led to order effects, and some participants failed to adhere to instructions causing missing data.
Conclusions
The evaluation of the CBM-I scenarios yielded encouraging results for their use in a future CBM-I single session study. This may lead the way for future interventions for OCD-related RNT.
{"title":"Repetitive negative thinking in OCD: Evaluation of novel scenarios for cognitive bias modification training","authors":"Chloe Bowles , Rachel White , Colette R. Hirsch , Karina Wahl","doi":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102037","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102037","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and objectives</h3><div>Evidence suggests that repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is underpinned by interpretation bias which is heightened among individuals with OCD. Cognitive bias modification for interpretation training (CBM-I) may reduce RNT by modifying interpretation bias which could reduce OCD symptoms. This study evaluated novel scenarios in terms of appropriateness and validity for use in a future CBM-I study targeting OCD-related RNT. This included analysis of the associations between interpretation bias and OCD symptoms, RNT, and OCD-specific rumination, respectively.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Forty-four novel CBM-I scenarios targeting RNT in OCD were developed based on clinical expertise and interviews of people with lived experience. A general population sample (<span><math><mrow><mi>N</mi></mrow></math></span> = 167) completed the missing word at the end of each scenario to resolve ambiguity. This provided a measure of interpretation bias, and item-level data on the materials’ ability to assess negative and benign interpretations. Participants also completed measures of OCD symptoms, general RNT and OCD-specific rumination.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Most scenarios displayed strong item discrimination coefficients, and well-balanced valence of interpretation responses, with minimal improvements required for future use. Interpretation bias was moderately positively correlated with OCD symptoms, RNT, and OCD-specific rumination, indicating good criterion validity.</div></div><div><h3>Limitations</h3><div>The order of CBM-I scenarios was not randomised which may have led to order effects, and some participants failed to adhere to instructions causing missing data.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The evaluation of the CBM-I scenarios yielded encouraging results for their use in a future CBM-I single session study. This may lead the way for future interventions for OCD-related RNT.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48198,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry","volume":"89 ","pages":"Article 102037"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144139620","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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