Does emotional reasoning change during cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety?

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Background:

• Emotional reasoning, defined as using subjective emotions instead of objective evidence for conclusions, is a significant interpretative bias in anxiety disorders.
• This bias is particularly pronounced in individuals diagnosed with anxiety disorders.
• The impact of therapeutic interventions on emotional reasoning has not been previously studied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether emotional reasoning tendencies are amenable to change during standard cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
• To assess the specific changes in emotional reasoning interpretative styles following a course of CBT for anxiety disorders.

Main Methods:

• Assessed emotional reasoning tendencies in 36 individuals with primary anxiety disorders undergoing outpatient treatment.
• Evaluated changes in anxiety, depressive symptoms, and emotional reasoning after 12 sessions of CBT in 25 participants with complete data.

Main Results:

• Emotional reasoning tendencies were present at the initial assessment.
• While anxiety and depressive symptoms decreased, only one of six measured emotional reasoning styles (related to incompetence) showed significant change post-CBT.
• High attrition rates and limited data on therapy's specific focus on emotional reasoning were noted.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with anxiety disorders exhibit emotional reasoning tendencies.
• Routine individual CBT, as typically administered, does not appear to effectively alter these emotional reasoning patterns.
• Further research is needed to explore targeted interventions for modifying emotional reasoning in anxiety treatment.