@article{ref1,
title="Don't tell me what to think: comparing self- and other-generated distraction methods for controlling intrusive thinking",
journal="Journal of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders",
year="2019",
author="Magee, Joshua C. and Dreyer-Oren, Sarah E. and Sarfan, Laurel D. and Teachman, Bethany A. and Clerkin, Elise M.",
volume="23",
number="",
pages="e100368-e100368",
abstract="Cognitive 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 versus harmful.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2211-3649",
doi="10.1016/j.jocrd.2017.12.003",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jocrd.2017.12.003"
}