Mechanisms of Change During Attention Training and Mindfulness in High Trait-Anxious Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effects of mindfulness-based techniques (MB-PMR) and metacognitive therapy (ATT) on anxiety and related mechanisms, versus a control condition.
Results Summary
The study compared MB-PMR and ATT to a control, measuring impacts on anxiety and mechanisms like cognitive flexibility and metacognitive beliefs, but full results are not detailed in the abstract.
Population
High trait anxious participants (N = 81).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Attention Training Technique (ATT) | neutral | anxiety | High trait anxious participants | - | impact on | #1 |
Attention Training Technique (ATT) | neutral | distancing | High trait anxious participants | - | impact on | #2 |
Attention Training Technique (ATT) | neutral | present-focused attention | High trait anxious participants | - | impact on | #3 |
Attention Training Technique (ATT) | neutral | uncontrollability and dangerousness | High trait anxious participants | - | impact on | #4 |
Attention Training Technique (ATT) | neutral | metacognitive beliefs | High trait anxious participants | - | impact on | #5 |
Attention Training Technique (ATT) | neutral | cognitive flexibility (Stroop task) | High trait anxious participants | - | impact on | #6 |
Mindfulness-Based Progressive Muscle Relaxation (MB-PMR) | neutral | anxiety | High trait anxious participants | - | impact on | #7 |
Mindfulness-Based Progressive Muscle Relaxation (MB-PMR) | neutral | distancing | High trait anxious participants | - | impact on | #8 |
Mindfulness-Based Progressive Muscle Relaxation (MB-PMR) | neutral | present-focused attention | High trait anxious participants | - | impact on | #9 |
Mindfulness-Based Progressive Muscle Relaxation (MB-PMR) | neutral | uncontrollability and dangerousness | High trait anxious participants | - | impact on | #10 |
Mindfulness-Based Progressive Muscle Relaxation (MB-PMR) | neutral | metacognitive beliefs | High trait anxious participants | - | impact on | #11 |
Mindfulness-Based Progressive Muscle Relaxation (MB-PMR) | neutral | cognitive flexibility (Stroop task) | High trait anxious participants | - | impact on | #12 |
thought wandering control (TWC) condition | neutral | anxiety | High trait anxious participants | - | impact on | #13 |
thought wandering control (TWC) condition | neutral | distancing | High trait anxious participants | - | impact on | #14 |
thought wandering control (TWC) condition | neutral | present-focused attention | High trait anxious participants | - | impact on | #15 |
thought wandering control (TWC) condition | neutral | uncontrollability and dangerousness | High trait anxious participants | - | impact on | #16 |
thought wandering control (TWC) condition | neutral | metacognitive beliefs | High trait anxious participants | - | impact on | #17 |
thought wandering control (TWC) condition | neutral | cognitive flexibility (Stroop task) | High trait anxious participants | - | impact on | #18 |
the techniques | neutral | anxiety | High trait anxious participants | - | indirect effects on | #19 |
The first aim of this study was to compare attention manipulation techniques deriving from metacognitive therapy (the Attention Training Technique; ATT) and mindfulness-based approaches (Mindfulness-Based Progressive Muscle Relaxation, MB-PMR) to a thought wandering control (TWC) condition, in terms of their impact on anxiety and four mechanisms: distancing, present-focused attention, uncontrollability and dangerousness, metacognitive beliefs, and cognitive flexibility (Stroop task). The second aim was to test indirect effects of the techniques on anxiety via the mechanism measures. High trait anxious participants (N = 81, M