How do worry and clinical status impact working memory performance? An experimental investigation

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Previous studies indicate a negative correlation between worry and working memory (WM) performance.
• The generalizability of these findings across varying worry levels and clinical populations remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of different worry levels on WM performance.
• To examine WM performance in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder, other anxiety/mood disorders, and subclinical symptoms compared to controls.

Main Methods:

• 138 participants completed a two-block WM task.
• Participants were categorized into four groups based on clinical status: generalized anxiety disorder, other anxiety/mood disorders, subclinical, and control.
• Trait worry levels, WM accuracy, and reaction time were measured.

Main Results:

• Higher worry scores correlated with longer reaction times in the initial block.
• Individuals in the generalized anxiety disorder, other anxiety/mood disorders, and subclinical groups exhibited significantly longer reaction times than controls.
• All participants showed improved accuracy and reaction time from Block 1 to Block 2, irrespective of worry level or clinical status.

Conclusions:

• Elevated worry levels impair WM processing efficiency.
• Clinical status, after controlling for age, is associated with WM deficits.
• Further research is warranted to understand the influence of worry on cognitive functions in diverse populations.