Don’t tell me what to think: Comparing self- and other-generated distraction methods for controlling intrusive thinking

Publication date: Available online 12 December 2017Source: Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related DisordersAuthor(s): Joshua C. Magee, Sarah E. Dreyer-Oren, Laurel D. Sarfan, Bethany A. Teachman, Elise M. ClerkinAbstractCognitive control is central to the phenomenon of intrusive thinking in obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. The current study tested how attempts at cognitive control are impacted by self- vs. other-generated distractor thoughts. Participants (N=1913) were randomly assigned to suppress or monitor an intrusive thought and also randomly assigned to: a) self-generate a distractor, b) receive a distractor, or c) receive no distractor guidance. Participants reported subsequent thought recurrences, perceived success and effort keeping the thought out of mind, and positive and negative affect during a one-minute thinking period and a one-minute monitoring period. During the first thinking period only, self-generated distractors resulted in greater perceived control (p<.001; during monitoring instructions only) relative to no guidance, and less effort (ps<.001) relative to both other conditions. Interestingly, self-generated distractors led to longer duration of recurrences relative to both other conditions (ps≤.007). Finally, there were no distractor differences in trajectories of positive and negative affect (ps>.10). These findings suggest that the source of distractors may inform when attempts to control intrusive thinking will be helpful ve...
Source: Journal of Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research