A Multi-Faceted Evaluation of Impulsivity Traits and Early Maladaptive Schemas in Patients with Anorexia Nervosa

(1) Background: patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) are classified either as restrictive (ANr) or binge/purge (ANbp) according to the absence or presence of impulsive eating and compensatory behaviors. The aim of the present study was to assess the levels of impulsivity in both AN subtypes and to explore whether individual differences in impulsivity may be explained by differences in the presence of early maladaptive schemas. (2) Methods: the sample group included 122 patients with ANr, 112 patients with ANbp, and 131 healthy women (HW). All of these participants completed the UPPS-P scale for an assessment of impulsive behaviors and the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-S3) for an assessment of early maladaptive schemas. (3) Results: the patients with ANbp displayed higher levels of impulsivity compared with the patients with ANr and HW. Patients with AN, especially the restrictive subtype, also reported higher levels of early maladaptive schemas than HW, and regression analyses revealed that specific maladaptive schemas partially explain the variability in impulsivity in both patients and HW. (4) Conclusions: it appears that maladaptive beliefs developed during childhood or adolescence may predict the development of impulsivity, a personality trait usually associated with maladaptive behaviors, and appears to be prevalent among ANbp patients. The clinical effects of this, as well as directions for future study, are also discussed in this paper.

Changing maladaptive beliefs among individuals with coronary heart disease using video information

Many individuals with coronary heart disease (CHD) have maladaptive beliefs which might increase anxiety and depression. This study investigates the impact of using video information to convey facts and correct misconceptions about CHD in individuals. 150 individuals with CHD were assigned to either the control group or one of two experimental groups. The participants completed the York Cardiac Beliefs Questionnaire in the baseline measure immediately after first viewing the video (time 1), and after viewing the video for six times within two weeks (time 2). The Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory II were completed in the baseline and at time 2. Multiple repeated measures anova shows that after the intervention, participants’ maladaptive beliefs, anxiety and depression were reduced in both experimental groups. Yet, it did not happen in the control group. It indicates that the video information corrects maladaptive beliefs, and reduces anxiety and depression levels in individuals with CHD.

Gifted boys’ perceptions of their academic underachievement

We examined how six gifted boys perceived the onset and development of their academic underachievement and what they identified as contributing aspects. Across the six boys’ experiences, a similar pattern of onset and development of academic underachievement emerged. The boys discussed a lack of academic challenge, investment in hobbies, issues with time management and self-regulation, family transitions, and peer relations as contributing to their academic underachievement. These aspects influenced the boys’ value beliefs (e.g., not caring about grades) or maladaptive beliefs about themselves (e.g., lower self-worth), which contributed to disengagement and underachievement according to students.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measurements in Temporomandibular Disorders and Headaches: Summary of Measurement Properties and Applicability

Introduction: Several patient-reported outcome measurements (PROMs) are available in the literature to support the evaluation and diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders and headaches. However, clinicians and researchers usually complain that they had no education on PROMs and low overall knowledge about PROMs. Objective: This study aimed to summarize, describing the measurement properties and clinical applicability of the main condition-specific PROMs available in the literature to the assessment of patients with Temporomandibular Disorders and Headaches. Methods: The current manuscript reviewed 10 PROMs commonly used in the field. Four instruments about functioning and disability: 1. Mandibular Function Impairment Questionnaire (MFIQ), 2. Craniofacial Pain and Disability Inventory (CF-PDI), 3. 8-item and 20-item Jaw Functional Limitation Scale (JFLS), and 4. Manchester Orofacial Pain Disability Scale (MOPDS). Two instruments about headache-related disability: 5. Headache-Related Disability Index (HDI) and 6. Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6). Three instruments focused on TMD and headache screening: 7. 3Q/TMD, 8. Short-Form Anamnestic Fonseca Index (SFAI), 9. Headache Screening Questionnaire. In addition, one instrument about maladaptive beliefs regarding pain and injury: 10. Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia for Temporomandibular Disorders (TSK-TMD). Conclusions: The knowledge about the limitations and applicability of the PROMs commonly used to assess TMDs and Headaches can help clinicians and researchers to obtain reliable and valid outcomes to support the decision-making process. The current review recognizes the importance of using patient-reported outcome measures in research and clinical practice. However, our findings call the attention that further studies on the measurement properties of such instruments are imperative.

Maladaptive Beliefs of Young Adults in Interpersonal Relationships: A Systematic Literature Review

Beliefs that are too rigid and misadjusted may legitimize interpersonal relationships marked by verbal, physical, or sexual violence. A systematic literature review was performed to identify the existence of maladaptive beliefs (MBs) in interpersonal relationships of young adults and their association with problematic behaviors. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, studies were obtained through a search in multiple databases: EBSCOhost, PubMed, and Web of Science. Of the 1,280 articles retrieved, 42 were retained for further analysis and 15 were considered eligible for inclusion. In addition, seven studies were added through manual search, leading to a final sample of 15 articles, published between 1964 and 2021. Only empirical studies with quantitative methodologies were included. Objectives, sample (age in years), sample type, country of origin of studies, instruments, control group, and results and main conclusions were extracted from each study. Results suggest the existence of MBs that may legitimize antisocial behavior and violence, whether physical, sexual, gender, domestic, or in intimate relationships. Some intervention programs were also identified, with different approaches with a reasonable degree of efficacy in changing these beliefs or in reducing the rates of recidivism by the aggressors.

Using Intervention Mapping in the Systematic Development of a Behaviour Change Intervention to Enhance Exercise Adherence among People with Persistent Musculoskeletal Pain

Purpose: This article describes the first four steps of the intervention mapping framework used to design a programme aimed at increasing adherence to prescribed exercise by people with persistent musculoskeletal pain. Method: In Step 1, a systematic review and qualitative study was completed to inform Step 2 and the identification of the Health Action Process Approach as an appropriate theoretical framework for establishing two programme objectives: enhancing self-management and providing tailored and accessible exercise instructions. Step 3 encompassed the selection of the programme methods, and the programme is described in Step 4. The resulting programme provides virtually delivered motivational interviewing and an app-based exercise programme to support individuals’ adherence to exercise. Results: The resulting intervention was assessed in a proof-of-concept feasibility and acceptability study and was shown to be feasible and acceptable. Refinements to the programme included additional tailoring of the exercise app and modifying the motivational interviewing schedule. Conclusions: Using the intervention mapping approach enabled us to successfully develop an intervention aimed at supporting the development of self-management behaviours and addressing maladaptive beliefs as a means of enhancing individuals’ adherence to exercise. Evaluation and implementation of the intervention should now be carried out.

The efficacy of cognitive restructuring and mindfulness strategies in reducing postevent processing among socially anxious individuals.

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is defined as a marked and persistent fear of social situations in which an individual is exposed to potential scrutiny from others (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Prominent models of SAD (Clark & Wells, 1995; Rapee & Heimberg, 1997) postulate that postevent processing (PEP), which involves reviewing a past social event in detail (typically in a negative way), serves as a key maintenance factor of SAD. The current study examined the efficacy of a single session cognitive restructuring or mindfulness strategy on decreasing PEP and its associated effects, and also investigated the cognitive processes involved. Seventy-four socially anxious participants completed a speech task to elicit PEP, were taught a cognitive restructuring, mindfulness, or control strategy to manage their negative thoughts related to the speech, and completed several questionnaires. Participants in the cognitive restructuring condition reported decreased PEP (degree and associated distress) and improved affect (but not reduced state anxiety), as compared to the control condition. Participants in the mindfulness condition also reported decreased PEP (degree but not associated distress) and improved affect (including reduced state anxiety), as compared to the control condition. No significant differences were found between the cognitive restructuring and mindfulness conditions. Participants in the cognitive restructuring condition also reported decreased beliefs about the perceived costs of negative social situations. Regardless of study condition, decreases in cost biases and maladaptive beliefs significantly predicted reductions in PEP. Thus, cognitive restructuring and mindfulness appear to be promising strategies to decrease PEP and its associated negative effects.

The efficacy of cognitive restructuring and mindfulness strategies in reducing postevent processing among socially anxious individuals.

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is defined as a marked and persistent fear of social situations in which an individual is exposed to potential scrutiny from others (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Prominent models of SAD (Clark & Wells, 1995; Rapee & Heimberg, 1997) postulate that postevent processing (PEP), which involves reviewing a past social event in detail (typically in a negative way), serves as a key maintenance factor of SAD. The current study examined the efficacy of a single session cognitive restructuring or mindfulness strategy on decreasing PEP and its associated effects, and also investigated the cognitive processes involved. Seventy-four socially anxious participants completed a speech task to elicit PEP, were taught a cognitive restructuring, mindfulness, or control strategy to manage their negative thoughts related to the speech, and completed several questionnaires. Participants in the cognitive restructuring condition reported decreased PEP (degree and associated distress) and improved affect (but not reduced state anxiety), as compared to the control condition. Participants in the mindfulness condition also reported decreased PEP (degree but not associated distress) and improved affect (including reduced state anxiety), as compared to the control condition. No significant differences were found between the cognitive restructuring and mindfulness conditions. Participants in the cognitive restructuring condition also reported decreased beliefs about the perceived costs of negative social situations. Regardless of study condition, decreases in cost biases and maladaptive beliefs significantly predicted reductions in PEP. Thus, cognitive restructuring and mindfulness appear to be promising strategies to decrease PEP and its associated negative effects.

The efficacy of cognitive restructuring and mindfulness strategies in reducing post-event processing among socially anxious individuals

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is defined as a marked and persistent fear of social situations in which an individual is exposed to potential scrutiny from others (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Prominent models of SAD (Clark & Wells, 1995 ; Rapee & Heimberg, 1997) postulate that postevent processing (PEP), which involves reviewing a past social event in detail (typically in a negative way), serves as a key maintenance factor of SAD. The current study examined the efficacy of a single session cognitive restructuring or mindfulness strategy on decreasing PEP and its associated effects, and also investigated the cognitive processes involved. Seventy-four socially anxious participants completed a speech task to elicit PEP, were taught a cognitive restructuring, mindfulness, or control strategy to manage their negative thoughts related to the speech, and completed several questionnaires. Participants in the cognitive restructuring condition reported decreased PEP (degree and associated distress) and improved affect (but not reduced state anxiety), as compared to the control condition. Participants in the mindfulness condition also reported decrease PEP (degree but no associate distress) and improved affect (including reduced state anxiety), as compared to the control condition. No significant differences were found between the cognitive restructuring and mindfulness conditions. Participants in the cognitive restructuring condition also reported decreased beliefs about the perceived costs of negative social situations. Regardless of study condition, decreases in cost biases and maladaptive beliefs sign significantly predicted reductions in PEP. Thus, cognitive restructuring and mindfulness appear to be promising strategies to decrease PEP and its associated negative effects.