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A Brief Worry Reappraisal Paradigm (REAP) Increases Coping with Worries

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“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” —William James.

Abstract

The current study examined a novel computerized cognitive reappraisal paradigm (REAP) for worry management in college-aged adults with a range of PSWQ scores (n = 98). Participants listed three current worries and were randomized to either REAP or a worry condition. For the REAP condition, participants selected positive reappraisal statements of their worries over negative ones. Before and after completing the reappraisal or worry task, participants discussed each worry. Participants rated their worries on coping ability, distress, and probability the worry would materialize. Relative to worry, the REAP group rated an increase in ability to cope with their worries whereas the results failed to provide evidence for a similar increase among the worry group. If similar findings emerge in clinical populations, REAP may eventually serve as a useful tool in augmenting cognitive behavioral therapy protocols.

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Funding

This research was supported by Northwestern University’s Graduate Research Grant (GRG). Nehjla M. Mashal was supported by the VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Health Research and Treatment, Office of Academic Affiliations; writing of this manuscript was supported in part by the Sierra Pacific MIRECC at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System.

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Author notes

  1. Nehjla M. Mashal

    Present address: Department of General Psychiatry Outpatient Services, Veterans Affairs San Francisco Medical Center, 4150 Clement St. (116B), San Francisco, 94121, CA, USA

  2. Michael A. Hernandez

    Present address: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, 60637, IL, USA

  3. Rachel Cackler Duller

    Present address: California Department of State Hospitals-Napa, Napa, 94558, CA, USA

  4. Holly Romaniak

    Present address: Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, 53706, WI, USA

  5. Ki Eun Shin

    Present address: Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, PA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, 2029 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL, 60208-2710, USA

    Nehjla M. Mashal, Michael A. Hernandez, Rachel Cackler Duller, Holly Romaniak, Ki Eun Shin, Ken A. Paller & Richard E. Zinbarg

  2. Sierra Pacific Mental Illness, Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, 94304, CA, USA

    Sherry A. Beaudreau

  3. Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Sherry A. Beaudreau

  4. School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Sherry A. Beaudreau

  5. The Family Institute at Northwestern University, 618 Library Pl, Evanston, IL, 60201, USA

    Richard E. Zinbarg

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  1. Nehjla M. Mashal
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Correspondence to Nehjla M. Mashal.

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Conflict of Interest

Nehjla M. Mashal, Sherry A. Beaudreau, Michael A. Hernandez, Rachel Cackler Duller, Holly Romaniak, Ki Eun Shin, Ken A. Paller, and Richard E. Zinbarg declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed involving human participants in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional Review Board (IRB) at Northwestern University, Evanston Campus and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors.

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Study findings have not been previously published or submitted for publication elsewhere, other than as part of a dissertation. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Federal Government.

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Mashal, N.M., Beaudreau, S.A., Hernandez, M.A. et al. A Brief Worry Reappraisal Paradigm (REAP) Increases Coping with Worries. Cogn Ther Res 44, 216–228 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-019-10053-8

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