Acceptability and Efficacy of a Single-Session Repetitive Negative Thinking Intervention: A Pilot Study

• Main Author: Hughes, Christopher David
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2020
• Subjects: Clinical psychology; Cognitive psychology; Quantitative psychology; Therapy
• ISBN: 9798569910403

Repetitive Negative Thinking (RNT) is a cognitive process that is repetitive, passive/unproductive, difficult to control, and focused predominantly on negative content. RNT has been identified as a transdiagnostic risk factor associated with the development and/or maintenance of a wide variety of psychological disorders and problematic behaviors. While evidence-based treatments exist that address RNT in some way, they are limited in their ability to reach the wide range of individuals experiencing problems with RNT. The present study sought to develop a single-session mindfulness-based skills-training video aimed at reducing RNT and assess its acceptability and preliminary efficacy across multiple methods. Participants, adult community members screened for high trait RNT (n = 71), completed baseline questionnaires and scheduled an in-person lab visit. Participants were randomly assigned to either the active (skills-training) or the control (no skills training) condition. The intervention’s preliminary efficacy was then assessed by comparing the groups’ levels of RNT and Negative Affect (NA): following an RNT induction during the lab visit, over the course of a five-day Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) monitoring period, and self-reported at follow-up relative to baseline. The intervention’s acceptability was assessed based on participants expectations at the end of the lab visit, their momentary reports of skills use and perceived effectiveness, and their retrospective satisfaction and perceived utility of the intervention at follow-up. Overall, results were promising for the intervention. The active condition demonstrated statistically and clinically significant and reliable reductions in RNT and NA at follow-up compared to baseline. They also reported less RNT and NA and more frequent and successful skills use over the course of the EMA monitoring period. However, we were unable to assess the impact of the skills training immediately after training in the lab because the RNT induction failed to induce RNT or NA in either condition. Finally, active condition participants reported finding the intervention acceptable across all three assessment timepoints. These finding indicate that a single-session mindfulness-based skills-training intervention is acceptable and potentially efficacious in reducing RNT. Together with the intervention’s preliminary promise, its brevity, low cost, ability to be delivered online, and applicability to a wide range of populations, make this a promising intervention that warrants continued investigation, development, and refinement.