Evaluation of a brief 4-session psychoeducation procedure for high worriers based on the mood-as-input hypothesis

• Published in: Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry 2015-03, Vol.46, p.126-132
• Main Authors: Dash, Suzanne R, Meeten, Frances, Jones, Fergal, Davey, Graham C.L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Analysis of Variance; Cognitive Therapy - methods; Decision Making; Decision rules; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Low-intensity intervention; Male; Mood; Mood Disorders - psychology; Mood Disorders - rehabilitation; Mood-as-input; Psychiatry; Psychometrics; Surveys and Questionnaires; Worry; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0005-7916; 1873-7943
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2014.09.008

Abstract Background & objectives Given the ubiquity of worrying as a consuming and distressing activity at both clinical and sub-clinical levels, it is important to develop theory-driven procedures that address worrying and allow worriers to manage this activity. This paper describes the development and testing of a psychoeducation procedure based on mood-as-input hypothesis, which is a transdiagnostic model that describes a proximal mechanism for perseverative worrying. The study used nonclinical participants meeting IAPT criteria indicating GAD symptomatology. Methods In 4 sessions, participants in experimental groups received psychoeducation about the basic principles of the mood-as-input hypothesis and received guidance on how to identify and change worry-relevant goal-directed decision rules and negative moods. Participants in the psychoeducation conditions were compared with participants in a befriending control group. Results Psychoeducation about the model significantly reduced PSWQ scores at follow-up compared with the befriending control condition (a between-groups large effect size, Cohen's d  = 1.05), and the homework tasks undertaken by the psychoeducation groups raised mood and reduced worry immediately. At follow up 48.2% of participants in the psychoeducation groups were below the recommended cut-off for identifying GAD symptomatology compared with 20% of participants in the control condition. Limitations This study was conducted on a small sample, high-worry student population, without a formal diagnosis. Conclusions This brief, low-intensity procedure is potentially adaptable to online or self-help procedures, and can be integrated into fuller cognitive therapy packages.