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9 - The experimental modification of processing biases

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2009

Jenny Yiend
Affiliation:
University of Oxford
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Summary

Introduction

An impressive body of empirical evidence, laid down over the past twenty-five or so years, has firmly established that emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression are accompanied by characteristic cognitive biases in the processing of emotional information. This chapter pays tribute to Andrew Mathews' significant contribution to this accumulated knowledge but also to his continued involvement in the new directions that are building on these solid foundations. On a personal note, Andrew has played a pivotal role in the respective lives and careers of both authors, acting in turn as a nurturing teacher, respected colleague and invaluable friend. Although we can never repay our debt of gratitude, nor match his eloquent style and incisive logic, we can, and do, attempt to highlight his recent work so that the importance of his ongoing contributions to this field are represented in this volume.

Assumptions and observations from clinical practice indicate that cognitive biases must be susceptible to some change since their modification forms an important basis of cognitive therapy. This chapter focuses on the development of experimental techniques to modify cognitive biases and on the assessment of the subsequent effects on mood states and vulnerability to anxiety. Research in this direction has the potential to provide a useful laboratory analogue to aid the investigation of naturally occurring biases, as well as allowing us to address questions of causality (see MacLeod et al., this volume) and explore new treatment possibilities. Before embarking on details of methodology, it is worth considering some of the questions that we have attempted to address on the way.

Type
Chapter
Information
Cognition, Emotion and Psychopathology
Theoretical, Empirical and Clinical Directions
, pp. 190 - 210
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2004

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