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Differential Effects of Word-Repetition Rate on Cognitive Defusion of Believability and Discomfort of Negative Self-Referential Thoughts Postintervention and at One-Month Follow-Up

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Abstract

Objective: The word repetition technique is used in acceptance and commitment therapy as a method of facilitating cognitive defusion from distressing thoughts. The present study conducted a randomised trial to manipulate the rate of word repetition and evaluate its impact on the efficacy of cognitive defusion. Method: Thirty-two participants repeated a self-chosen negative self-evaluative word for 30 seconds at the rates of one word per 0.5-, 1-, or 2-seconds. Visual analogue scales were used to measure the associated levels of believability and discomfort at pre- and immediately postrepetition, and 1 month later. Results: Both believability and discomfort were significantly reduced immediately after word repetition in the 0.5-seconds and 1-second conditions. There was a significantly greater reduction in Discomfort in the 1-second condition in comparison to the 2-second condition. The 1-second condition alone maintained significant reductions in both believability and discomfort at 1-month follow up. Conclusion: Differences in the cognitive defusion of distressing thoughts appear to be influenced by word repetition rate with repetition rates of one word per 0.5 and 1 seconds somewhat more effective for treating distressing private experiences associated with problem words.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Chichester, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 6PE, UK

    Ian Tyndall & Richard Papworth

  2. Department of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Ireland

    Bryan Roche

  3. Department of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Marc Bennett

  4. Department of Psychology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Marc Bennett

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  1. Ian Tyndall
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  2. Richard Papworth
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  3. Bryan Roche
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Correspondence to Ian Tyndall.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants in the study.

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On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states there is no conflict of interest.

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Tyndall, I., Papworth, R., Roche, B. et al. Differential Effects of Word-Repetition Rate on Cognitive Defusion of Believability and Discomfort of Negative Self-Referential Thoughts Postintervention and at One-Month Follow-Up. Psychol Rec 67, 377–386 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-017-0227-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-017-0227-2

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