Cognitive Defusion as Strategy to Reduce the Intensity of Craving Episodes and Improve Eating Behavior

The elaborated intrusion theory of desire proposes that craving is a cognitive motivational process involving intrusive thoughts. Changing the way we react to them, cognitive defusion (CD), should limit thought elaboration and craving. We induced chocolate craving in female chocolate cravers before CD (Study 1). A decrease in craving measured by a single-item scale, Visual Analogical Scale (VAS; p < .001, ηp2 = .449) and as a state, State Food Craving Questionnaire (FCQ-S; p = .029, ηp2 = .106) were found in the experimental group, while similar results were also found in group control. The reduction in craving (VAS) in group CD correlated negatively with chocolate consumption on a bogus taste test (r = –.439, p = .036), while the correlation was positive in the case of group control (r = .429, p = .047). Food craving as a trait, measured by the Trait Food Craving Questionnaire (FCQ-T), showed negative correlations with measures of CD and mindfulness skills (lowest r = –.313, p = .018). In Study 2 participants made use of a smartphone application implementing the CD procedure in real contexts whenever they experienced food craving. A corresponding decline in self-reported craving was found, as well as in consumption of the craved food (indulgence) compared with the control condition. Our findings indicate that CD may be a promising intervention for tackling the elaboration of intrusive thoughts and eating behavior in young female food cravers, both in a controlled laboratory environment after a cue-food exposure craving induction procedure, as well as responding to naturally occurring food cravings in real-life settings.

Cognitive defusion

This chapter reviews the conceptualization and empirical evidence of the midlevel process called cognitivedefusion. Firstly, we present examples of cognitive fusion and cognitive defusion definitions offered inacceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) manuals, discuss their relationships with other ACT midlevelprocesses, and offer a relational frame theory (RFT) conceptualization of these processes. Secondly, wedescribe the type of cognitive defusion exercises and discuss the basic processes involved in them. Thirdly,we review the measurement of cognitive (de)fusion in the form of self-report instruments, behavioralmeasures, and the assessment in the clinical session. Fourthly, we present a review of the research oncognitive (de)fusion separated in laboratory research, survey research, and the analysis of processes ofchange in clinical trials. Lastly, we discuss some challenges and future directions in conceptualizing andresearching cognitive (de)fusion.

Do Cognitive Abilities Influence Physical and Mental Fatigue in Patients with Chronic Pain after Walking According to a Clinical Guideline for Physical Exercise?

The objective of this study is to explore the mediator role of cognitive fusion and chronic pain acceptance on the effects that the walking pattern, following an established clinical guideline for physical exercise, can have on fatigue (physical and mental) in patients with chronic pain. The sample consisted of a total of 231 women with fibromyalgia with a mean age of 56.91 years (Standard Deviation SD = 9.58 years, range 30−78 years). The results show a significant indirect effect of the walking pattern on both physical and mental fatigue through cognitive fusion and chronic pain acceptance. Specifically, walking predicted less cognitive fusion, which predicted greater chronic pain acceptance, which, in turn, predicted less mental and physical fatigue (Beta-B- = −0.04, Standard Error SE = 0.02, 95% Confidence Interval 95% CI = [−0.09, −0.02]; B = −0.09, SE = 0.05, 95% CI = [−0.22, −0,15], respectively). It can be concluded that the walking pattern is linked to both physical and mental fatigue through cognitive defusion and chronic pain acceptance. These cognitive abilities would allow fibromyalgia patients to perceive an improvement in both physical and mental fatigue by carrying out the walking pattern. Emphasizing the training of cognitive defusion and pain acceptance would improve the adherence of these patients to walking.

Trait and state mindfulness modulate EEG microstates

Here, we aimed to characterized microstate dynamics induced by open-monitoring meditation (OM), which emphasizes a non-reactive stance toward lived experience, while participants were passively exposed to auditory stimuli. We recorded EEG signals from eighteen trained meditators before, during, and after an OM, that we compared to a matched control group at rest. To characterize brain state, we used a multidimensional-based analysis including source localization EEG microstates, phenomenological reports and personality trait questionnaires. We showed that microstate A was negatively correlated with mindfulness trait and decreased in frequency after OM compared to before in meditators. Microstate B was longer and was positively correlated to non-reactivity trait after OM in the meditator group. Microstate C was less frequent and shorter at rest before OM in meditators compared to non-meditators, and decreased in frequency after OM in meditators. Further, the occurrence of microstate C was negatively correlated to non-reactivity trait of meditators. Source localization analysis revealed that the mindfulness trait effect on microstate C at rest was explained by lower activity of the salience network (identified in the anterior cingulate cortex, thalamus and insula), while the mindfulness state effect relied on a strong contribution of (anterior and posterior) cerebellum during OM. While the decreased microstate A occurrence would be related to the mitigation of phonological aspect of thinking processes, the decrease of microstate C occurrence would represent an index of the cognitive defusion enabled by non-reactive monitoring underlying mindfulness meditation, for which the cerebellum appears to play a crucial role.

Chatbot-Delivered Cognitive Defusion versus Cognitive Restructuring for Negative Self-Referential Thoughts: A Pilot Study

Conversational agents or chatbots are a novel, highly accessible, and low-resource method of psychological intervention delivery. The present research aims to compare two brief chatbot interventions that delivered cognitive restructuring and defusion interventions, respectively. It was hypothesized that a defusion chatbot would lead to reduced cognitive fusion and decreased thought believability relative to cognitive restructuring and a nonactive control. Participants (N = 223; M age of 28.01 [SD = 10.29]; 47 identified as male, 174 as female, and 2 as nonbinary) were randomized into one of three conditions (defusion, restructuring, control), engaged for 5 days completing thought and mood measures pre- and postintervention. Sixty-two participants (M age of 25.98; SD = 8.647 years) completed measures again at time 2 (49 identified as female, 12 as male, and 1 as nonbinary). No statistically significant differences were observed among groups on believability of thoughts (F[2, 25] = .79, p = .47, ηp2 = .06), negativity of thoughts (F[2,25] = 1.49, p = .25, η 2 = .11), discomfort associated with thoughts (F[2, 25] = .48, p = .62, ηp2 = .04), and willingness (F[2, 25] = 3.00, p = .07, ηp2 = .19) to have negative self-referential thoughts. Moreover, substantial attrition of 72% was observed. Acceptability and usability of the chatbots employed are discussed as contributing toward the limited effectiveness of interventions and elevated attrition. Various recommendations are presented to support researchers and clinicians in developing engaging and effective chatbots.

Coparenting Alleviated the Effect of Psychological Distress on Parental Psychological Flexibility

Parenting is full of challenges and responsibilities. It is particularly important for parents to be open to parental difficult experiences and adopt behaviors consistent with self-chosen values, which termed as parental psychological flexibility (PPF). However, few studies have focused on the effect of psychological distress (anxiety and depression) on different components of PPF. This study examined the effect of psychological distress on the three components of PPF (cognitive defusion, committed action, and acceptance) as well as the role of coparenting quality in Chinese parents. A total of 462 parents of children aged 1–18 years completed self-report measures of anxiety, depression, coparenting, and PPF. Our results revealed that higher level of PPF went along with less anxiety and depression, while it was also associated with better coparenting quality. Coparenting partially mediated the effect of anxiety on cognitive defusion and acceptance and fully mediated the effect of depression on cognitive defusion and acceptance. Moderation analyses showed that the link between anxiety and cognitive defusion, as well as the link between anxiety and acceptance were moderated by coparenting. We discussed the implications of coparenting as a protective factor in alleviating the negative effect of psychological distress on PPF.

The Stories We Tell: Why Cognitive Distortions Matter for Leaders

"This study explored whether leaders’ thought patterns (specifically cognitive distortions) and emotion regulation strategies (specifically cognitive reappraisal, cognitive defusion, and expressive suppression) relate to their work experiences. Findings suggest that leaders’ cognitive distortions are related to their work experiences and that emotion regulation strategies can help leaders mitigate the effects of cognitive distortions. More specifically, the results of this study offer the following insights: • Leaders’ cognitive distortions related to all examined workplace topics (role ambiguity, role conflict, social support, perceived organizational support, job satisfaction, and burnout). • Leaders’ use of emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and cognitive defusion) mitigated the impact their cognitive distortions had on burnout, specifically. • Attempting to suppress emotional responses was relatively ineffective compared to the other two emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and cognitive defusion). These insights suggest that certain emotion regulation strategies may be helpful in ameliorating the deleterious effects of cognitive distortions on leaders’ burnout. The current paper provides an overview of the different cognitive distortions and emotion regulation strategies explored and includes advice on what leaders can do to more effectively notice and manage cognitive distortions that emerge during distressing situations. "