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Effectiveness of Association Splitting in Reducing Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts in a Nonclinical Sample

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 July 2012

Boris C. Rodríguez-Martín ,
Steffen Moritz ,
Osana Molerio-Pérez  and
Patricia Gil-Pérez
Boris C. Rodríguez-Martín*
Affiliation:
Central University of Las Villas (UCLV), Cuba
Steffen Moritz
Affiliation:
University Medical Center, Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
Osana Molerio-Pérez
Affiliation:
Central University of Las Villas (UCLV), Cuba
Patricia Gil-Pérez
Affiliation:
Central University of Las Villas (UCLV), Cuba
*
Reprint requests to Boris C. Rodríguez-Martín, Faculty of Psychology, Central University “Marta Abreu” of Las Villas (UCLV), Carretera de Camajuaní Km 5½, Santa Clara, Villa Clara, CubaCP: 54830. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background: Association Splitting (AS) is a novel cognitive technique, which has shown some promise for the reduction of obsessive thoughts in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Its effect on unwanted intrusive thoughts (UITs) in the general population is yet unknown. Method: Our experimental study tested the effect of AS in 49 participants who reported UITs as a regular problem. Participants were randomly allocated either to an AS versus waitlist control (WL) condition. The White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI) was used for measuring changes over time. Results: Significant group differences were found across time. Relative to WL, AS exerted a positive effect on the reduction of UITs yielding a large effect size. According to self-report AS exerted a positive effect 6 days after the participants had initiated the exercises. All subjects in the AS condition judged the technique as effective Conclusion: Results suggest that AS could be a suitable intervention to help people with a potential vulnerability to a clinical problem to control their UITs.

Keywords

Unwanted Intrusive Thoughtsthoughts suppressionassociation splittingWhite Bear Suppression Inventory
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 41 , Issue 4 , July 2013 , pp. 433 - 440
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2012 

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