Pub 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":"2025-10-09","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 : 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":"2025-10-01","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}
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":"2025-09-26","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 : 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":"2025-08-31","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 : 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":"2025-08-23","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 : 2025-08-23DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102056
Rory Wallace , Cameron Lacey , Rebecca J. Sargisson
Emetophobia (fear of vomiting) is an understudied disorder that affects .2 % of people, with extreme (non-phobic) fear affecting up to 8 % of people. The most effective treatment for specific phobias is exposure therapy, and virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET), has become a viable treatment alternative to traditional in-vivo or imaginal exposure therapy. However, using VRET to treat emetophobia has not yet been explored. We used a within-subjects, multiple-baseline-across-participants design with six participants to evaluate the emetophobia programme of oVRcome; a low-cost, Aotearoa New Zealand-based VRET app. After using the oVRcome VRET app, we saw visible improvements in self-reported phobia symptoms for four of the six participants (P2, P4, P5, and P6). For half the participants (P4, P5, and P6), the reported decreases were large, with two participants scoring below the threshold for a likely phobia diagnosis. The emetophobia programme of the oVRcome VRET app may be effective at reducing emetophobia severity, and our results support research showing eHealth apps can be a low-cost and effective treatment for a range of psychological issues.
{"title":"Can a virtual reality exposure therapy app improve symptoms of Emetophobia? A single-subject Experimental design study","authors":"Rory Wallace , Cameron Lacey , Rebecca J. Sargisson","doi":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102056","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102056","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Emetophobia (fear of vomiting) is an understudied disorder that affects .2 % of people, with extreme (non-phobic) fear affecting up to 8 % of people. The most effective treatment for specific phobias is exposure therapy, and virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET), has become a viable treatment alternative to traditional in-vivo or imaginal exposure therapy. However, using VRET to treat emetophobia has not yet been explored. We used a within-subjects, multiple-baseline-across-participants design with six participants to evaluate the emetophobia programme of oVRcome; a low-cost, Aotearoa New Zealand-based VRET app. After using the oVRcome VRET app, we saw visible improvements in self-reported phobia symptoms for four of the six participants (P2, P4, P5, and P6). For half the participants (P4, P5, and P6), the reported decreases were large, with two participants scoring below the threshold for a likely phobia diagnosis. The emetophobia programme of the oVRcome VRET app may be effective at reducing emetophobia severity, and our results support research showing eHealth apps can be a low-cost and effective treatment for a range of psychological issues.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48198,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry","volume":"89 ","pages":"Article 102056"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144889033","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 : 2025-08-23DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102059
Rosita Borlimi , Irene Brianzoni , Greta Riboli , Mattia Nese , Gianni Brighetti , Giancarlo Dimaggio
Background
One key ingredient for guided imagery interventions’ effectiveness is their capacity to increase emotional arousal. However, individual responses vary, as some people can have negative experiences that undermine treatment adherence or effectiveness. Research is needed to understand predictors of negative reactions to experiencing negative events during imagery. One idea suggests that some individuals struggle to return to baseline, making the experience unpleasant or distressing. Which predictors contribute to slower recovery after imagery of negative events?
Aims and hypothesis
We tested the following hypotheses in a non-clinical sample: (H1) participants experienced an increase in physiological arousal upon recalling an unpleasant autobiographical event, (H2) participants returned spontaneously to baseline physiological levels during the recovery period, but (H3) emotion dysregulation, depression and trait anxiety predicted recovery arousal, and (H4) repetitive thinking (rumination and worry) was also associated with recovery arousal.
Methods
Participants completed questionnaires assessing repetitive thinking (rumination and worry), trait anxiety, depression, and emotion dysregulation. Arousal was measured through continuous recording of Skin Conductance Response (SCR) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV).
Results
After the predicted arousal increase following imagery, participants returned to baseline. There were individual differences in average physiological return to baseline as measured by SCR, but not HRV. Emotion regulation, trait anxiety, rumination and worry significantly predicted physiological recovery.
Conclusions
Individuals with severe tendencies towards repetitive thinking and, to a lesser extent, with higher trait anxiety and emotion dysregulation may require preliminary work before undergoing imagery aimed at working through distressing memories.
{"title":"Arousal grows up, arousal goes down. Emotion regulation, trait anxiety, rumination and worry as predictors of recovery time after mental imagery","authors":"Rosita Borlimi , Irene Brianzoni , Greta Riboli , Mattia Nese , Gianni Brighetti , Giancarlo Dimaggio","doi":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102059","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102059","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>One key ingredient for guided imagery interventions’ effectiveness is their capacity to increase emotional arousal. However, individual responses vary, as some people can have negative experiences that undermine treatment adherence or effectiveness. Research is needed to understand predictors of negative reactions to experiencing negative events during imagery. One idea suggests that some individuals struggle to return to baseline, making the experience unpleasant or distressing. Which predictors contribute to slower recovery after imagery of negative events?</div></div><div><h3>Aims and hypothesis</h3><div>We tested the following hypotheses in a non-clinical sample: (H1) participants experienced an increase in physiological arousal upon recalling an unpleasant autobiographical event, (H2) participants returned spontaneously to baseline physiological levels during the recovery period, but (H3) emotion dysregulation, depression and trait anxiety predicted recovery arousal, and (H4) repetitive thinking (rumination and worry) was also associated with recovery arousal.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Participants completed questionnaires assessing repetitive thinking (rumination and worry), trait anxiety, depression, and emotion dysregulation. Arousal was measured through continuous recording of Skin Conductance Response (SCR) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>After the predicted arousal increase following imagery, participants returned to baseline. There were individual differences in average physiological return to baseline as measured by SCR, but not HRV. Emotion regulation, trait anxiety, rumination and worry significantly predicted physiological recovery.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Individuals with severe tendencies towards repetitive thinking and, to a lesser extent, with higher trait anxiety and emotion dysregulation may require preliminary work before undergoing imagery aimed at working through distressing memories.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48198,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry","volume":"89 ","pages":"Article 102059"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144888848","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 : 2025-08-23DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102040
Victoria M.E. Bridgland , Ella K. Moeck , Melanie K.T. Takarangi
Trigger warnings are alerts that intend to help people emotionally prepare for, or avoid, potentially distressing material likely to trigger memories or emotions related to past experiences. Lab studies suggest that warnings overwhelmingly result in approach behaviour rather than avoidance. However, no research to date has tracked exposure and responses to trigger warnings in daily life. Here 261 young adults (aged 17–25) completed a 7-day daily diary study in which they tracked exposure to trigger warnings on social media and reported if they approached or avoided the content marked by the warnings. Because trigger warnings are intended for use by certain groups of vulnerable people (e.g., trauma survivors/people with mental health concerns), we also measured various psychopathological characteristics (posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] symptoms, trauma exposure, etc.). Consistent with lab-based studies, we found that most people (∼90 %) reported approaching content marked by a trigger warning, and most commonly did so out of “curiosity”. Moreover, only ∼10 % of participants reported always avoiding content marked by a trigger warning when they saw it—signalling a tendency to approach warned material in the real world. We also found no relationship between self-reported avoidance of content marked with trigger warnings that was encountered in daily life and any mental health risk marker (e.g., PTSD symptoms, trauma exposure). Our findings therefore further question claims that trigger warnings are an effective online mental health intervention.
{"title":"“I'm always curious”: Tracking young adults exposure and responses to social media trigger warnings in daily life","authors":"Victoria M.E. Bridgland , Ella K. Moeck , Melanie K.T. Takarangi","doi":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102040","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102040","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Trigger warnings are alerts that intend to help people emotionally prepare for, or avoid, potentially distressing material likely to trigger memories or emotions related to past experiences. Lab studies suggest that warnings overwhelmingly result in approach behaviour rather than avoidance. However, no research to date has tracked exposure and responses to trigger warnings in <em>daily life.</em> Here 261 young adults (aged 17–25) completed a 7-day daily diary study in which they tracked exposure to trigger warnings on social media and reported if they approached or avoided the content marked by the warnings. Because trigger warnings are intended for use by certain groups of vulnerable people (e.g., trauma survivors/people with mental health concerns), we also measured various psychopathological characteristics (posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] symptoms, trauma exposure, etc.). Consistent with lab-based studies, we found that most people (∼90 %) reported approaching content marked by a trigger warning, and most commonly did so out of “curiosity”. Moreover, only ∼10 % of participants reported always avoiding content marked by a trigger warning when they saw it—signalling a tendency to approach warned material in the real world. We also found no relationship between self-reported avoidance of content marked with trigger warnings that was encountered in daily life and any mental health risk marker (e.g., PTSD symptoms, trauma exposure). Our findings therefore further question claims that trigger warnings are an effective online mental health intervention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48198,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry","volume":"89 ","pages":"Article 102040"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144889023","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 : 2025-08-23DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102051
Charlie W. McDonald, Richard E. Mattson, Fiona G. Sleight, Steven J. Lynn, Christina Balderrama-Durbin, Meredith E. Coles
Few studies have directly compared variables implicated in the etiology of dissociation within an experimental paradigm. Virtual reality (VR) has recently received empirical support as a vehicle for experimentally manipulating state dissociation to test these etiological models. We conducted a study to induce state dissociation to examine key variables in the etiology of dissociation (e.g., trauma experiences). First, participants completed demographic information and baseline measures of state and trait dissociation, positive and negative affect, and a set of theoretically important variables within the transdiagnostic and transtheoretical model (TTM; e.g., emotional dysregulation). Next, they were randomized to a VR or personal computer (PC) condition, in which they navigated a virtual cityscape for 15 minutes, followed by another set of questionnaires to capture change in state dissociation and positive and negative affect. We evaluated (a) residualized change scores for state dissociation and positive and negative affect; and (b) explored associations between variables in the TTM and these outcomes. Findings revealed that (a) VR did significantly increase state dissociation when controlling for trait dissociation; (b) positive but not negative affect increased in the VR condition from pre-to post-induction; and (c) variables in the TTM were correlated with pre- and post-induction scores of state dissociation, but these associations were not stronger in the VR condition compared to the PC condition. Combined, these findings suggest that VR is an effective laboratory paradigm for increasing state dissociation and positive affect. Furthermore, several proposed etiological variables in the TTM do relate to and explain state dissociation as hypothesized.
{"title":"Using an ecologically generalizable virtual reality (VR) paradigm for studying state dissociation and etiological models of clinically-significant dissociation","authors":"Charlie W. McDonald, Richard E. Mattson, Fiona G. Sleight, Steven J. Lynn, Christina Balderrama-Durbin, Meredith E. Coles","doi":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102051","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102051","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Few studies have directly compared variables implicated in the etiology of dissociation within an experimental paradigm. Virtual reality (VR) has recently received empirical support as a vehicle for experimentally manipulating state dissociation to test these etiological models. We conducted a study to induce state dissociation to examine key variables in the etiology of dissociation (e.g., trauma experiences). First, participants completed demographic information and baseline measures of state and trait dissociation, positive and negative affect, and a set of theoretically important variables within the transdiagnostic and transtheoretical model (TTM; e.g., emotional dysregulation). Next, they were randomized to a VR or personal computer (PC) condition, in which they navigated a virtual cityscape for 15 minutes, followed by another set of questionnaires to capture change in state dissociation and positive and negative affect. We evaluated (a) residualized change scores for state dissociation and positive and negative affect; and (b) explored associations between variables in the TTM and these outcomes. Findings revealed that (a) VR did significantly increase state dissociation when controlling for trait dissociation; (b) positive but not negative affect increased in the VR condition from pre-to post-induction; and (c) variables in the TTM were correlated with pre- and post-induction scores of state dissociation, but these associations were not stronger in the VR condition compared to the PC condition. Combined, these findings suggest that VR is an effective laboratory paradigm for increasing state dissociation and positive affect. Furthermore, several proposed etiological variables in the TTM do relate to and explain state dissociation as hypothesized.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48198,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry","volume":"89 ","pages":"Article 102051"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144889025","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 : 2025-08-23DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102058
Lisa Zöbl , Anika Frühauf , Alexander Heimbeck , Ulrich Voderholzer , Martin Kopp
Background
Therapeutic climbing (TC) is increasingly used as a therapy form in psychosomatic settings. Recent studies have shown its effectiveness in terms of symptom severity and other psychological factors compared to other sports and even to group cognitive behavioural therapy. To gain a deeper understanding of TC, the present study aimed to qualitatively explore the patients' perspectives.
Methodology
The qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of inpatients at a psychosomatic clinic who participated in a standardised climbing therapy group. The main diagnoses of the participants were depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (n = 17; 12 female, 5 male). Data were analysed using thematic content analysis.
Results
Most patients described positive effects of TC. The following four factors emerged: Cognitive (e.g. concentration, focus), emotional (e.g. trust in oneself and others), social (e.g. mutual support), and physical (e.g. strength). Patients also reported positive perceived aspects in connection with their mental disorder and listed various transfer options, which indicates an effectiveness beyond TC.
Discussion
From the patients' perspective, TC influences various factors, which also interact. Many of the identified effects could be assigned to the common factors of psychotherapy, which indicates that TC addresses similar factors as established psychotherapies. In addition to the researched aspects of self-efficacy and affective responses, new aspects were identified: Focus and concentration, social interaction, facing challenges, improved self-confidence, trust in others, and resource activation. Practical implications could be derived from this. Future studies should investigate the efficacy of TC in randomised, controlled clinical trials, considering the aspects identified.
{"title":"Therapeutic climbing as an adjunctive treatment for psychiatric inpatients: A qualitative study","authors":"Lisa Zöbl , Anika Frühauf , Alexander Heimbeck , Ulrich Voderholzer , Martin Kopp","doi":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102058","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102058","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Therapeutic climbing (TC) is increasingly used as a therapy form in psychosomatic settings. Recent studies have shown its effectiveness in terms of symptom severity and other psychological factors compared to other sports and even to group cognitive behavioural therapy. To gain a deeper understanding of TC, the present study aimed to qualitatively explore the patients' perspectives.</div></div><div><h3>Methodology</h3><div>The qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of inpatients at a psychosomatic clinic who participated in a standardised climbing therapy group. The main diagnoses of the participants were depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (n = 17; 12 female, 5 male). Data were analysed using thematic content analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Most patients described positive effects of TC. The following four factors emerged: Cognitive (e.g. concentration, focus), emotional (e.g. trust in oneself and others), social (e.g. mutual support), and physical (e.g. strength). Patients also reported positive perceived aspects in connection with their mental disorder and listed various transfer options, which indicates an effectiveness beyond TC.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>From the patients' perspective, TC influences various factors, which also interact. Many of the identified effects could be assigned to the common factors of psychotherapy, which indicates that TC addresses similar factors as established psychotherapies. In addition to the researched aspects of self-efficacy and affective responses, new aspects were identified: Focus and concentration, social interaction, facing challenges, improved self-confidence, trust in others, and resource activation. Practical implications could be derived from this. Future studies should investigate the efficacy of TC in randomised, controlled clinical trials, considering the aspects identified.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48198,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry","volume":"89 ","pages":"Article 102058"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144889035","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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