Singer Alisa R, Dobson Keith S
Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. N. W. Calgary, Alta., Canada T2N 1N4.
Behav Res Ther. 2007 Mar;45(3):563-75. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2006.05.007. Epub 2006 Jun 23.
The present study employed an experimental design, to examine the role of metacognitive processing in the prevention of relapse to depression. Eighty remitted depressed participants were randomly allocated to receive training in the metacognitive style of rumination, distraction, acceptance or no training control prior to a negative mood induction. Rumination prolonged the intensity of the negative mood consistent with no training, whereas both distraction and acceptance reduced the intensity of the negative mood. Changes in attitudes were only found in the acceptance condition, as participants in this condition reduced negative attitudes towards negative experiences. These results are consistent with information processing theory, and imply that acceptance-based preventative interventions may operate by both reducing the intensity of sad moods and altering one's attitudes towards temporary moments of sadness.
