Psychological Inflexibility (PI) occurs when behavior is rigidly guided by internal events (e.g., thoughts, emotions, sensations) rather than personal values or external contingencies. PI has been hypothesized to be a transdiagnostic process that may account for a range of mental disorders. Few studies explored the relationship of PI with a broad range of mental disorders, and no study examined such a relationship in clinical samples. The present study examined PI as a transdiagnostic process across different mental disorders in a sample of psychiatric patients. Participants were 225 outpatients (60% female, M age: 35.7 yrs; SD: 15.7) recruited at the Psychiatric Units of the Santa Chiara Hospital of Pisa (Italy) and 100 adults without mental disorders (control group) (66% Female; M age: 35.9 yrs; SD: 15.7). Patients met DSM-5 criteria for at least one of the following disorders: Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD; n = 36; 16%), Eating Disorder (ED; n = 11; 4.9%), Bipolar Disorder (BD; n = 65; 28.9%), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD; n = 34; 15.1%), Major Depression (MD; n = 62; 27.6%), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD; n = 15; 6.7%), Panic Disorder (PD; n = 28; 12.4%). Results from ANCOVA analyses, controlling for socio-demographic variables, showed that PI was significantly higher across the different diagnoses when comparing to the control group. The only exception was for the ADHD group, which showed similar levels of PI than the control group. PI was also significantly higher in patients meeting DSM criteria for multiple diagnoses than in patients having only one disorder. Furthermore, except for the ADHD group, the differences in PI across the different diagnoses were not statistically significant. This research extends previous findings by demonstrating in a clinical sample that PI is associated with a variety of mental disorders as well as to comorbidity. Identifying transdiagnostic processes for psychopathology is of great relevance for the development of psychological treatments that may be useful across multiple disorders and hence more efficient.
Exploring psychological inflexibility as a transdiagnostic factor in a clinical sample of psychiatric outpatients
Bernini O.;Berrocal C.
2023-01-01
Abstract
Psychological Inflexibility (PI) occurs when behavior is rigidly guided by internal events (e.g., thoughts, emotions, sensations) rather than personal values or external contingencies. PI has been hypothesized to be a transdiagnostic process that may account for a range of mental disorders. Few studies explored the relationship of PI with a broad range of mental disorders, and no study examined such a relationship in clinical samples. The present study examined PI as a transdiagnostic process across different mental disorders in a sample of psychiatric patients. Participants were 225 outpatients (60% female, M age: 35.7 yrs; SD: 15.7) recruited at the Psychiatric Units of the Santa Chiara Hospital of Pisa (Italy) and 100 adults without mental disorders (control group) (66% Female; M age: 35.9 yrs; SD: 15.7). Patients met DSM-5 criteria for at least one of the following disorders: Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD; n = 36; 16%), Eating Disorder (ED; n = 11; 4.9%), Bipolar Disorder (BD; n = 65; 28.9%), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD; n = 34; 15.1%), Major Depression (MD; n = 62; 27.6%), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD; n = 15; 6.7%), Panic Disorder (PD; n = 28; 12.4%). Results from ANCOVA analyses, controlling for socio-demographic variables, showed that PI was significantly higher across the different diagnoses when comparing to the control group. The only exception was for the ADHD group, which showed similar levels of PI than the control group. PI was also significantly higher in patients meeting DSM criteria for multiple diagnoses than in patients having only one disorder. Furthermore, except for the ADHD group, the differences in PI across the different diagnoses were not statistically significant. This research extends previous findings by demonstrating in a clinical sample that PI is associated with a variety of mental disorders as well as to comorbidity. Identifying transdiagnostic processes for psychopathology is of great relevance for the development of psychological treatments that may be useful across multiple disorders and hence more efficient.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
