PI occurs when behavior is rigidly guided by internal events (e.g., thoughts, feelings, memories) rather than personal values or direct contingencies. Six processes have been hypothesized to contribute to PI: experiential avoidance, cognitive fusion, attachment to the conceptualized self, attentional rigidity, lack of values clarity, and actions that are inconsistent with one’s values. This study explored PI processes as transdiagnostic factors relevant to anxiety and depressive disorders. Methods: Participants were psychiatric outpatients with anxiety (n = 51; 68.6% female, Mean age = 34.5 yrs; SD = 15.5) and depressive disorders (n = 49; 61.2% females, Mean age = 40.9, SD = 17) as primary diagnoses, and 87 healthy adults (control group; 64.4% female; Mean age = 37.8 yrs; SD = 17.8). Patients were recruited at the Psychiatric Units of the Santa Chiara Hospital of Pisa (Italy). Participants completed the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory. Results: Results from ANCOVA analyses showed that both clinical groups differed from healthy adults in PI processes related to fusion, attachment to conceptualized self, and inactivity/actions that are inconsistent with values, while the differences between the clinical groups in these processes were not statistically significant. Further, depressive patients showed poorer acceptance and attentional abilities when compared to both anxiety and control groups, while patients with anxiety disorders showed more difficulties concerning values when compared to the other comparison groups. Discussion: Findings support different PI processes as transdiagnostic factors for anxiety and depressive disorders. They also suggest some specificities for each diagnostic group that may be relevant for psychological interventions.
Psychological inflexibility processes in patients with depressive and anxiety disorders.
Fanciullacci Luisa;Berrocal Carmen
2024-01-01
Abstract
PI occurs when behavior is rigidly guided by internal events (e.g., thoughts, feelings, memories) rather than personal values or direct contingencies. Six processes have been hypothesized to contribute to PI: experiential avoidance, cognitive fusion, attachment to the conceptualized self, attentional rigidity, lack of values clarity, and actions that are inconsistent with one’s values. This study explored PI processes as transdiagnostic factors relevant to anxiety and depressive disorders. Methods: Participants were psychiatric outpatients with anxiety (n = 51; 68.6% female, Mean age = 34.5 yrs; SD = 15.5) and depressive disorders (n = 49; 61.2% females, Mean age = 40.9, SD = 17) as primary diagnoses, and 87 healthy adults (control group; 64.4% female; Mean age = 37.8 yrs; SD = 17.8). Patients were recruited at the Psychiatric Units of the Santa Chiara Hospital of Pisa (Italy). Participants completed the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory. Results: Results from ANCOVA analyses showed that both clinical groups differed from healthy adults in PI processes related to fusion, attachment to conceptualized self, and inactivity/actions that are inconsistent with values, while the differences between the clinical groups in these processes were not statistically significant. Further, depressive patients showed poorer acceptance and attentional abilities when compared to both anxiety and control groups, while patients with anxiety disorders showed more difficulties concerning values when compared to the other comparison groups. Discussion: Findings support different PI processes as transdiagnostic factors for anxiety and depressive disorders. They also suggest some specificities for each diagnostic group that may be relevant for psychological interventions.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.