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| International Symposium - Experimental Investigations into the Processes Involved in Treating Human Psychopathology using ACT/RFT |
| Tuesday, May 30, 2006 |
| 10:30 AM–11:50 AM |
| International Ballroom South |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Basic Research |
| Chair: Claire Keogh (National University of Ireland, Maynooth) |
| Abstract: The current symposium provides an experimental analysis of the processes involved in treating human suffering using acceptance-based behavior interventions. Specifically, this symposium will discuss the processes involved in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and its underlying theory Relational Frame Theory (RFT). The first of these presentations investigates the relationship between rule-following and psychopathology and uses RFT to discuss the processes involved in rule-following in the context of different environmental contingencies. The second presentation provides an experimental analysis of the underlying process involved in cognitive defusion in the context of negative self-referential thoughts. The remainder of this symposium will discuss the applications of an acceptance-based intervention. The third presentation investigates the verbal behavioral processes involved in an acceptance-based and a relaxation-based intervention for coping with a stress-inducing academic task. The final presentation looks at the processes implicated in an acceptance-based and a control-based protocol for increasing exposure to a spider for spider-fearful participants. |
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| Experimental Analyses of Rule-Following. |
| MARIE GORHAM (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Yvonne Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Dermot Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Dave McAuliffe (N/a) |
| Abstract: Previous research has highlighted the relationship between rule-following and psychopathology. Indeed, findings from relevant research have indicated that excessive rule-following is correlated with some features of psychopathology, including depression. The results of a number of recent studies have shown that high-depressed teenagers were more likely to follow rules that were inconsistent with environmental contingencies than low-depressed teenagers. Furthermore, this excessive rule-following occurred more often in the context of pliance than tracking. The current work was designed to replicate previous research to determine whether differential patterns of rule-following would be observed in the context of pliance versus tracking and whether these performances would correlate with a range of psychological measures. The results of the study are discussed in terms of Relational Frame Theory and its implications for human psychopathology and psychotherapy. |
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| An Experimental Analysis of Cognitive Defusion in the context of Negative Thoughts. |
| CLAIRE KEOGH (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Yvonne Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Dermot Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth) |
| Abstract: Cognitive defusion techniques have been used within therapeutic settings as coping interventions for the treatment of psychological problems, specifically within the realm of acceptance-based therapies (e.g., ACT; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). Clinical applications of such techniques have been found to result in a reduction in the emotional impact of negative self-referential thoughts, although not in the frequency of these events. However, there has been little or no empirical investigation of the processes underpinning defusion or its effects. The current study investigates the impact of cognitive defusion in the context of negative self-referential thoughts (e.g., “I am a stupid person”) with a non-clinical sample of undergraduate students. The results of the study suggest that the presentation of even brief defusion rationales and exercises result in a decrease in the levels of believability and discomfort associated with negative self-referents. Implications for the use of cognitive defusion interventions in clinical practice are discussed. |
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| Comparison of Relaxation- and Acceptance-Based Interventions as Coping Strategies for Task Anxiety. |
| CHRISTOPHER WILSON (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Yvonne Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Dermot Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth) |
| Abstract: The study of psychological acceptance has attracted increasing attention in clinical outcome research in recent years, but experimental studies have been relatively small in number. The current paper presents an experimental study that sought to compare the effectiveness of acceptance versus relaxation as strategies for coping with a stress-inducing academic task. The study measures both performance on the task and subjective measures of arousal before, during, and after the task is complete. The results have implications for understanding the verbal behavioral processes involved in acceptance- and relaxation-based interventions in clinical settings. |
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| Developing a Behavioral Approach Task: Improving Adherence to Acceptance- versus Control-Based Strategies. |
| ANDREANNE L. COCHRANE (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Dermot Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Yvonne Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Ian T. Stewart (National University of Ireland, Galway) |
| Abstract: Spider-fearful participants were identified using a baseline performance on a behavioral approach task (BAT). The 8-steps of the task involved an increasing risk of exposure to a spider. The participants were assigned to one of three conditions: i) a brief acceptance-based intervention, ii) a brief control-based intervention or iii) a no-instructions group. The participants then repeated the BAT. Although both the distraction and acceptance groups significantly increased the number of steps completed post intervention, self-report measures suggested that adherence to the assigned strategy was low. A number of measures have now been introduced to improve adherence levels in order to further examine the processes involved in both distraction- and acceptance-based interventions. |
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