Trajectories of anxiety symptoms in adolescents: Testing the model of emotional inertia

Background/Objective: Two predictions derived from a recently introduced model of psy chotherapy outcome were tested, assuming the dynamical relationship between the individual's emotional trajectory and the force of intervention necessary to change this trajectory: (a) only a high intensity tr...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Bornas, Xavier, de la Torre-Luque, Alejandro, Fiol, Aina, Balle, Maria
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2017
País:España
Institución:Conselleria de Salut i Consum del Govern de les Illes Balears
Repositorio:Docusalut
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docusalut.com:20.500.13003/10945
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13003/10945
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Trajectory
Anxiety
Emotional inertia
Treatment energy
Ex post facto study
Descripción
Sumario:Background/Objective: Two predictions derived from a recently introduced model of psy chotherapy outcome were tested, assuming the dynamical relationship between the individual's emotional trajectory and the force of intervention necessary to change this trajectory: (a) only a high intensity treatment would succeed to lower the increasing trajectory of anxiety, and (b) high as well as low intensity treatments would equivalently lower the non -increasing trajectory of anxiety. Methods: Seventy-four adolescents (58.40% girls; M = 14.65 years, SD= 0.53) were randomly assigned to a high intensity treatment condition, a low intensity treatment condition, or a waiting list condition. Results: Only the high intensity treatment reduced the anxiety when participants showed an increasing trajectory (p < .01). None of the treatments reduced anxiety when a previously non -increasing trajectory was shown. Conclusions: These findings support the theoretical predictions and underscore the need to consider not only how severe the anxiety is but also the time course of anxiety in applied treatment settings.