Cognitive Distortions Research Articles

The Impact of a 4-Domain Wellness-Initiative Curriculum on Internal Medicine Resident Physicians.

There is a trend toward fostering well-being, or the state of being happy and healthy, within the medical community. Historically, resident physicians have faced high rates of distress during training. A structured well-being curriculum in residency programs may shift residents' mindsets from survival and resilience to one centered on purpose, engagement, and joy. An original well-being curriculum was administered to residents in person at a single institution every 5 weeks for approximately 10 well-being workshops, totaling around 20 hours of curriculum exposure during every academic year. The well-being curriculum was divided into 4 domains: cognitive distortions and problematic mindsets, mindfulness and meditation, creative outlets, and self-compassion.Residents exposed to at least 1 year of the well-being curriculum were asked to answer an anonymous survey. Four questions were asked for each of the 4 domains. The first and second questions asked how familiar they were with the topic before and after the workshops on a scale of 1-5 of familiarity. The third and fourth questions asked how much the knowledge acquired influenced their professional and personal life on a scale of 1-5 of influence. Before curriculum exposure, the average for moderate or higher levels of knowledge across all domains was 22.7%, which improved to 77.3% after curriculum completion. Overall, 58.6% of participants felt the knowledge of the domains was moderately or extremely influential in their professional lives and 83.6% in their personal lives. There were no significant differences between post-graduate year 2 and post-graduate year 3 residents for any domains examined before and after the wellness workshops. A 4-domain well-being curriculum practiced in a group setting positively impacted participating residents in their personal and professional lives. Further studies need to be performed on a larger scale to assess if the curriculum fits the needs of the broader medical community.

Cognitive Restructuring during Depressive Symptoms: A Scoping Review.

Cognitive restructuring (CR) aims to get people to challenge and modify their cognitive distortions, generating alternative, more adaptive thoughts. Behavioral, emotional, and physiological responses are modified by analyzing and changing dysfunctional thoughts. The person must have the cognitive capacity to participate in the analysis of their thoughts. CR for people with depression has positive effects, although there is little research on how it should be structured and applied. CR is a thought modification technique presented in the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC), but is not organized in a sequential approach, and there is no procedure for applying it in practice. This scoping review aims to identify the structure, contents and assessment instruments used in CR for people with depressive symptoms and to analyze the health outcomes of applying the CR technique in this population. Out of 515 articles, seven studies were included in the review, up to 2021 and without any time limitation. The studies were not guided by a consistent and sound framework of the CR technique and each study used its own framework, although they used similar techniques. We grouped CR into six steps. No specific studies were found regarding intervention by nurses. CR is effective in reducing depressive symptoms, so it is an important therapeutic tool that should be used on people with depression. With this scoping review, mental health nurses will have a more comprehensive idea of the techniques that can be used in the application of CR to patients with depressive symptoms.

Similarities and differences in the psychological factors associated with generalised problematic internet use, problematic social media use, and problematic online gaming

Problematic online behaviours are a concern among university students. Although previous research has identified that psychological distress, cognitive distortions, conscientiousness and neuroticism traits, motor impulsivity, and emotion regulation strategies have a significant direct effect on generalised problematic Internet use (GPIU), problematic social media use (PSMU), and problematic online gaming (POG), it is still necessary to determine the extent to which these psychological factors, taken together, are associated with each of the problematic online behaviours. In a sample of 690 Spanish university students, the present study examined the relationship of these psychological factors with GPIU, PSMU, and POG. Correlation and regression analyses were performed. Results reported that (1) high psychological distress, low conscientiousness trait and high motor impulsivity were common associated factors of GPIU and PSMU, but not of POG; (2) high levels of cognitive distortions and cognitive reappraisal were common associated factors of GPIU, PSMU and POG; and (3) expressive suppression and neuroticism trait had no effect on any of the three problematic online behaviours. The findings will help to develop effective prevention and intervention strategies for each problematic online behaviour in the university context.

Confidence biases in problem gambling.

Subjective confidence plays an important role in guiding behaviour, especially when objective feedback is unavailable. Systematic misjudgements in confidence can foster maladaptive behaviours and have been linked to various psychiatric disorders. In this study, we adopted a transdiagnostic approach to examine confidence biases in problem gamblers across three levels: local decision confidence, global task performance confidence, and overall self-esteem. The importance of taking a transdiagnostic perspective is increasingly recognised, as it captures the dimensional nature of psychiatric symptoms that often cut across diagnostic boundaries. Accordingly, we investigated if any observed confidence biases could be explained by transdiagnostic symptom dimensions of Anxiety-Depression and Compulsive Behaviour and Intrusive Thought. This approach allows us to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the role of metacognitive processes in problem gambling, beyond the constraints of traditional diagnostic categories. Thirty-eight problem gamblers and 38 demographically matched control participants engaged in a gamified metacognition task and completed self-report questionnaires assessing transdiagnostic symptom dimensions. Compared to controls, problem gamblers displayed significantly elevated confidence at the local decision and global task levels, independent of their actual task performance. This elevated confidence was observed even after controlling for the heightened symptom levels of Anxiety-Depression and Compulsive Behaviour and Intrusive Thought among the problem gamblers. The results reveal a notable disparity in confidence levels between problem gamblers and control participants, not fully accounted for by the symptom dimensions Anxiety-Depression and Compulsive Behaviour and Intrusive Thought. This suggests the contribution of other factors, perhaps linked to gambling-specific cognitive distortions, tothe observed confidence biases. The findings highlight the intricate link between metacognitive confidence and psychiatric symptoms in the context of problem gambling. It underscores the need for further research into metacognitive biases, which could enhance therapeutic approaches for individuals with psychiatric conditions.

Cognitivism as the Basis of Artificial Intelligence

The article examines the main issues of cognitivism as the basis of artificial intelligence (AI) in a modern philosophical interpretation of these entities. A classification of AI is given according to the level of cognitivism of basic functions. We consider the issues of the evolution of the cognitive capabilities of artificial intelligence. The problems of predictability of the negative impact of AI on society are raised. The article highlights the main cognitive distortions that are possible when using artificial intelligence in research, namely, the illusion of research breadth. The authors provide recommendations for researchers and editors of academic journals regarding a competent use of AI in scientific experiments. This work also raises the issue of trust in the field of cybersecurity of AI systems. The authors consider the hypothesis about the presence of consciousness in chatbots and draw clear conclusions about its absence.

Online Games and Cognitive Distortions: A Comparative Analysis in Students with and without Disabilities.

Online games have experienced significant growth in recent years, with gaming becoming a popular form of entertainment for people of all ages. However, their impact on cognition, especially among vulnerable groups such as students with disabilities, is a topic that requires deeper exploration. The objectives of this study are twofold: firstly, to understand the typology of risk players (non-risk players, players with problems, and pathological players); and secondly, to compare cognitive distortions among students with problematic profiles. Both objectives will be analyzed based on the presence or absence of disability. A total of 704 students from various Spanish universities (135 with disabilities and 569 without disabilities), aged between 18 and 38, participated in the study by completing the Gamblers Belief Questionnaire (GBQ), aimed at measuring cognitive distortions related to gambling problems, as well as the Massachusetts Gambling Screen questionnaire, aimed at measuring gambling addiction. The results indicate a higher percentage of students with disabilities showing a greater risk profile for addiction. Additionally, this group of students exhibits more cognitive distortions. These findings underscore the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing online gaming addiction and cognitive distortions among university students, with and without disabilities. Preventive measures are necessary, such as education on responsible technology use and the promotion of alternative activities. Moreover, specific intervention strategies need to be developed, including access to psychological health services for this student population.

For a proper use of frequentist inferential statistics in public health

As widely noted in the literature and by international bodies such as the American Statistical Association, severe misinterpretations of P-values, confidence intervals, and statistical significance are sadly common in public health. This scenario poses serious risks concerning terminal decisions such as the approval or rejection of therapies. Cognitive distortions about statistics likely stem from poor teaching in schools and universities, overly simplified interpretations, and – as we suggest – the reckless use of calculation software with predefined standardized procedures. In light of this, we present a framework to recalibrate the role of frequentist-inferential statistics within clinical and epidemiological research. In particular, we stress that statistics is only a set of rules and numbers that make sense only when properly placed within a well-defined scientific context beforehand. Practical examples are discussed for educational purposes. Alongside this, we propose some tools to better evaluate statistical outcomes, such as multiple compatibility or surprisal intervals or tuples of various point hypotheses. Lastly, we emphasize that every conclusion must be informed by different kinds of scientific evidence (e.g., biochemical, clinical, statistical, etc.) and must be based on a careful examination of costs, risks, and benefits.

FROM MEDIA LITERACY TO INDIVIDUAL INFORMATION SECURITY OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

The authors focus on developing the individual information security skills of higher education students due to the intensification of students’ interaction with different types and forms of fake content. The paper theoretically substantiates the developed pedagogical technology and presents educational and methodical developments. The authors present the design and results of testing (Module 1,2 of the technology) with the participation of undergraduate students at the Siberian Institute of Management RANEPA (N = 147), The testing was conducted as a comprehensive verification based on the authors’ classification criteria, selected set of technical means, and recommendations for identifying cognitive distortions.

What Prevents Us From Learning Virtual Reality Space: A Study of Indoor Corridor Angle and Obstacle Transparency

People sometimes become disorientated and feel unnatural in virtual reality (VR) spaces created via devices such as head-mounted displays. The main problem is that multiple structures make it difficult to learn the VR space, particularly indoors. These structures segment the space and form boundaries for sightlines and activity areas. How obstacles in segmented space affect human behavior have been less discussed in studies related to navigation. This study sought to clarify the mechanism for the effect of spatial segmentation effect on human spatial cognition, in the context of indoor navigation. This study was conducted in a VR scenario with an omni-directional treadmill; a total of 76 college students participated, and 52 of them were included in the analysis. The study found that the cognitive distortion from spatial segmentation primarily operates by activity area rather than visual obstruction, and it can be inferred that the basis of human abstraction of spatial information may perhaps be the activity area. Regardless of obstacle transparency, non-rectangular spatial segmentation deteriorates navigational performance. The results suggest that, future metaverse communities should consider designing rectangular segmented activity areas to improve navigation performance and reduce disorientation.

Reliability and validation of the Japanese version of the cognitive distortion scale.

The cognitive distortion scale (CDS) is a self-rated measure to assess the degree of cognitive distortion which is 10 thinking errors commonly seen in depression. However, there is no scale to measure 10 types cognitive distortions specific to depression in Japan. Therefore, this study translated the CDS into Japanese (CDS-J), and examined its factor structure, validity, and reliability in a Japanese population. A total of 237 healthy individuals and 39 individuals with depression participated in this study. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated the appropriateness of the CDS-J's 10-factor structure. Regarding convergent validity, CDS-J was significantly correlated with dysfunctional attitudes, negative automatic thoughts, and depression. Regarding discriminant validity, the CDS-J showed no significant correlation with positive automatic thoughts. The total CDS-J scores of the healthy participants and of those with major depression were compared. The results showed significant differences between groups. Finally, the CDS-J was found to have a high test-retest reliability. Therefore, the CDS-J is a valid and reliable tool for assessing cognitive distortions in Japan.

Exploring Cognitive Biases in Gamblers: The Player's Error and its Practical Implications

In the world of gambling, there are many cognitive distortions and mistakes that can affect the decisions and behaviour of the players, providing the background of the article. In this study, with the participation of 150 respondents, we investigate the occurrence of inconsistencies and errors using the "Gamblers' Beliefs Questionnaire" (GBQ). The purpose of this research is to explore the beliefs and mindsets of players, with particular attention to how these delusions affect attitudes towards gambling and the players' sense of control over the outcome of the game.The GBQ questionnaire method is used to analyse gamblingrelated attitudes and beliefs, as well as their correlations with gambling frequency and cognitive errors. The results of this research can help to better understand the mindset and beliefs of gamblers and contribute to the development of measures to prevent and treat gambling problems.The results showed that players tend to think that the probability of winning increases after consecutive losses. However, in reality, and light of the facts, this results in a false player conclusion that can lead to problematic behaviour

An Empirical Investigation of the Three-Pathway Model and its Contribution to the Gambling Disorder Psychopathology.

Blaszczynski and Nower (2002) proposed a theoretical model that leads to problem gambling via three pathways: (1) operant conditioning; (2) emotional vulnerability; and (3) impulsivity and psychopathy. In the current investigation, we explored the relationship between these three putative causative dimensions and clinical core features of Gambling Disorder (GD): gambling craving, gambling-related cognitive distortions, gambling (wagering) behavior, and gambling severity. Data on 343 people with disordered gambling were analyzed. Measures representing the three pathways were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA generated three profiles. The original dimension of impulsivity/psychopathy was divided into two parts; the impulsivity-related traits were combined with symptoms of depression and anxiety to form one single component representing a volatile emotional, cognitive and behavioral style, named the Affect-instability component. The other two components were Psychopathy and Operant Behavior. Linear regression models for each PCA component found that the Affect-instability component was associated with all core features of GD, i.e., craving, cognitive distortions, gambling behavior and severity (standardized Β range: 0.298-0.448, all p < 0.001). Operant Behavior was significantly associated with gambling behavior (standardized Β=-0.137, p = 0.038) and gambling severity (standardized Β=-0.157, p = 0.006). Psychopathy was associated only with gambling cognitive distortions (standardized Β=-0.300, p < 0.001), suggesting a wider dimension of cognitive challenges in GD. An instability component encompassing emotional and cognitive dysregulation was the strongest predictor of all clinical features of GD. The correlation between operant conditioning and gambling severity suggests that behavioral conditioning plays a role in the persistence of maladaptive gambling.

A concept analysis of psychological trauma in labour and delivery nurses.

To facilitate an understanding of the risk for psychological trauma in labour and delivery nurses. Concept analysis. The Walker and Avant method of concept analysis was applied to 56 articles. The characteristics, antecedents, and consequences of psychological trauma in labour and delivery nurses were identified. Peer-reviewed articles in English from CINAHL, PubMed and Google Scholar were reviewed on July 2023. The characteristics of psychological trauma in labour and delivery nurses are overwhelming distress, intrusive symptoms, avoidance and numbing behaviours, hypervigilance or hyperarousal, emotional dysregulation, cognitive distortions, and interpersonal challenges. The antecedents are exposure to one or more of the following nurse-specific traumas: natural or person-made disasters, historical role limitations, second victim situations, secondary trauma, system-mediated or over-medicalized care, insufficient resources, or workplace incivility. The consequences are disruptions in mental health, diminished physical health, alterations in relationships, and variable work performance. Labour and delivery nurses experience unique causes of psychological trauma due to their practice environment and patient population. The consequences of labour and delivery nurses' psychological trauma extend beyond individual health and impact the quality of patient care and organizational capacity. Furthermore, research is needed to inform education, support and policy measures to mitigate harm effectively. WHAT PROBLEM DID THE STUDY ADDRESS?: Nurse-specific trauma theory has not been applied to the unique labour and delivery environment with a high incidence of patient trauma. WHAT WERE THE MAIN FINDINGS?: Multiple causes of trauma in the perinatal context have created a pervasive yet largely preventable issue. WHERE AND ON WHOM WILL THE RESEARCH HAVE AN IMPACT?: This research will impact labour and delivery nurses, their leadership, and their patients. No patient or public contribution.

Betting on Your Feelings: The Interplay between Emotion and Cognition in Gambling Affective Task.

Background: Gambling Disorder (GD) is a bio-psycho-social disorder resulting from the interaction of clinical, cognitive, and affective factors. Impulsivity is a crucial factor in addiction studies, as it is closely linked to cognitive distortions in GD by encompassing impulsive choices, motor responses, decision-making, and cognitive biases. Also, emotions, mood, temperament, and affective state are crucial in developing and maintaining GD. Gambling can be used as a maladaptive coping strategy to avoid or escape problems and distress. Methods: The aim of the present study is to explore differences in personality traits and emotion regulation of people suffering from GD, substance-dependent gamblers (SDGs), and healthy controls (HCs). Additionally, the study proposes a new experimental task: the "Gambling Affective Task" (GAT) to investigate the influence of affective priming on risk-taking behaviors. Results: Our findings indicate that participants placed lower bets following positive priming. Additionally, SDGs wagered significantly higher amounts than HCs, regardless of priming type. In general, participants exhibited longer response times after positive priming trials, compared to negative and neutral priming trials. These findings suggest that experiencing positive emotions can act as a protective factor by delaying and lengthening gambling behaviors. By comparing gamblers with and without substance comorbidity, we can gain insight into the exclusive factors of GD and improve our understanding of this disorder. Conclusions: By elucidating the impact of emotional states on risk-taking, the research also provides new insights into the prevention and treatment of GD.

Cognitive Distorions and Depression among Older Adults: Moderating Role of Resilience

Background: Depression is a disabling mental condition that reduces the quality of life regardless of age and circumstances. Late-life depression may be especially impairing due to its relationship with poor physical and mental health. Objective:The aim of the present study is to examine the relationship between cognitive distortions, resilience and depression among older adults. As well, this study also aimed to examine the moderating role of resilience between cognitive distortions and depression. Method: Purposive sampling strategy was used to recruited sample, and data was collected from (n=300) older adults. Cognitive distortions scale, Connor-Davidson resilience scale and Back depression inventory-II were used in this study. Results: Results showed cognitive distortions and resilience has significant positive relationship with depression. Findings also revealed that cognitive distortions and resilience were significant predictors of depression. In addition, resilience plays a significant moderating role between cognitive distortions and depression. Conclusion: This study concluded that the resilience could be an adaptive strategy to cope with stress and reduce depression in community-dwelling older adults.

Effects of a Serious Game for Adolescent Mental Health on Cognitive Vulnerability: Pilot Usability Study.

Adolescent mental health is of utmost importance. E-mental health interventions, and serious games in particular, are appealing to adolescents and can have beneficial effects on their mental health. A serious game aimed at improving cognitive vulnerability (ie, beliefs or attitudes), which can predispose an individual to mental health problems, can contribute to the prevention of these problems in adolescents. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of the prototype of a serious game called "Silver." The prototype of the serious game was developed using a user-centered participatory design. The prototype of Silver focused on 1 aspect of a serious game for improving cognitive vulnerability in adolescents, that is, the recognition and identification of cognitive distortions. Through the game, players were required to identify and classify the character's thoughts as helpful or unhelpful. Upon successful advancement to the next level, the task becomes more challenging, as players must also identify specific types of cognitive distortions. A pre- and posttest uncontrolled design was used to evaluate the game, with a 1-week intervention phase in which participants were asked to play the game. Participants aged 12-16 years were recruited in schools. The outcomes of interest were the recognition of cognitive distortions and presence of participants' cognitive distortions. The game was also evaluated on its effects, content, and usefulness. A total of 630 adolescents played Silver and completed the assessments. Adolescents were significantly better at recognizing cognitive distortions at the pretest (mean 13.09, SD 4.08) compared to the posttest (mean 13.82, SD 5.09; t629=-4.00, P<.001). Furthermore, their cognitive distortions decreased significantly at the posttest (mean 38.73, SD 12.79) compared to the pretest (mean 41.43, SD 10.90; t629=7.98, P<.001). Participants also indicated that the game helped them recognize cognitive distortions. Many participants considered the game appealing (294/610, 48.2%) but boring (317/610, 52%) and preferred a more comprehensive game (299/610, 49%). Findings from this study suggest that a serious game may be an effective tool for improving cognitive vulnerability in adolescents. The development of such a serious game, based on the prototype, is recommended. It may be an important and innovative tool for the universal prevention of mental health problems in adolescents. Future research on the effects of the game is warranted.

Impulsivity, emotional disorders and cognitive distortions in the general population: highlighting general interaction profiles.

Cognitive distortions, defined as erroneous information-processing, are involved in the emergence and maintenance of various mental and emotional disorders, including anxiety and depression. On the other hand, several studies highlight the existence of links between these states and the dimensions of impulsivity. We therefore studied the links between cognitive distortions, anxiety and depressive symptomatology, and impulsivity. Two hundred and forty adults (aged 18-60years, 101 men, 139 women) completed the French version of the Impulsive Behavior Scale, the Cognitive Distortions Scale for Adults and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The results obtained highlight the existence of a cognitive distortion specific profile regarding the urgency dimension. Negative maximization, disqualification of the positive, negative-focused dichotomous reasoning, positive arbitrary focus, and neutral omission in favour of the negative are thus the distortions most associated with the level of urgency of subjects. The results also show, a moderating effect of the level of urgency on the interaction between anxiety and negative focused dichotomous reasoning. As well as on the interaction between depression and positive minimization, and between depression and positive maximization. The discussion of the results focuses on the interpretation of the data regarding the anxiety-depressive states in general population.

Initial validation of Hanson Sex Attitude Questionnaire (HSAQ) in Portuguese perpetrators of child sexual abuse and perpetrators of non-sexual crimes

ABSTRACT Cognitive distortions (CDs) are a crucial element in the etiology of child sexual offending, with most of the intervention programs targeting them to reduce the risk of sexual recidivism in perpetrators of child sexual abuse (CSA). Researchers have developed the Hanson Sex Attitude Questionnaire (HSAQ) to assess CDs. With a total sample of 256 participants, the Portuguese version of the HSAQ revealed a two-factor structure. The HSAQ subscales demonstrated good to acceptable psychometric properties in terms of internal consistency, as well as discriminant validity. One of the subscales also demonstrated convergent validity. Additionally, the two subscales exhibited differences between perpetrators of CSA with and without previous interventions, indicating known-groups validity. Overall, our findings partially support the use of the HSAQ in the forensic Portuguese population, underscoring its significance for clinical and research purposes. Nevertheless, particular caution is advised, especially regarding factor two.

A pilot study regarding the feasibility and efficacy of an outpatient treatment program for young adult high-risk offenders (YAHOP).

This pilot study examines whether the Young Adult Habitual Offender Program (YAHOP), an intensive and outpatient program, is related to a reduction in the general risk of recidivism, common forensic symptomology as well as cognitive distortions. The program integrity (PI) was assessed, with the intent to explore the relationship between the level of PI and any changes in several outcome variables. Additionally, the study examines whether participants with a migration background benefitted equally from YAHOP compared to participants with a native Dutch background. The sample comprised n = 90 high-risk young adult offenders. Results show a decrease in general risk of recidivism. The dynamic risk factors delinquent social network, insufficient impulse control, and dysfunctional problem-solving skills also show a decrease, as well as the forensic symptoms of aggression and anger. Effect sizes are small, except for anger, which has a medium effect size. We found no change in cognitive distortions and problematic substance use. YAHOP shows to be responsive and culturally sensitive, as the participants with a migration background show a significant decrease in general risk of recidivism. No moderator analysis was conducted due to an overall low level of program integrity. After improving program integrity, full-scale quantitative research is needed as YAHOP has the potential as a promising desistance program for high-risk offenders, as in this study the 56 non-completers were also included.

Evolution of “Pay-It-Forward” in the Presence of the Temptation to Free-Ride

“Paying it forward” is a behavior in which people help someone else because they were helped in the past. Although experimental evidence exists that indicates that real human beings often “pay-it-forward” even in the face of free-rider risks, the theoretical basis for the evolution of this behavior remains unclear. In this paper, we propose a game-theoretical model that explains how pay-it-forward behavior can evolve despite the temptation to free-ride. By assuming that human beings exhibit cognitive distortions, as predicted by prospect theory, and that free-riding is punished with a tiny probability, we demonstrate that pay-it-forward, alongside unconditional altruistic behavior, can evolve and effectively deter free-riding behavior.