Negative Cognitive Distortions Research Articles

Cognitive distortions, anxiety, and depression in individuals suffering from PTSD

Cognitive distortions are an essential factor in the development and maintenance of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim of the study is to investigate the link between the production of cognitive distortions and PTSD by measuring levels of anxiety and depression. Our sample comprised 183 participants divided into three groups: 59 trauma-exposed with PTSD, 61 trauma-exposed without PTSD, and 63 non-trauma-exposed non-PTSD (controls). All participants were assessed on the following dimensions: PTSD (PCL-5), cognitive distortions (EDC-A), anxiety and depression (HADS). The main results highlight a production of cognitive distortions in people with PTSD, who had significantly more positive than negative cognitive distortions compared to the group exposed to trauma without PTSD. In addition, the PTSD group had higher anxiety and depression scores than the other two groups. Findings indicate that people with PTSD show more positive cognitive distortions than those without PTSD, and that this is not related to levels of anxiety and depression.

Maladaptive cognitions and emotion regulation in posttraumatic stress disorder.

The present study investigated the interactions between emotion regulation strategies and cognitive distortions in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We also examined differences in emotion regulation and cognitive distortions across the trauma spectrum. The study was conducted in France between December 2019 and August 2020 and was approved by the university ethics committee. We recruited 180 participants aged over18, with 3groups of60 each: (1)patients diagnosed with PTSD, (2)trauma-exposed without PTSD, (3)no history of trauma. Exclusion criteria were ahistory of neurological or mental disorders, psychoactive substance abuse, and ahistory of physical injury that could affect outcomes. All participants completed the Life Events Checklist‑5 (LEC-5), Post-traumatic Check List‑5 (PCL-5), Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), and Cognitive Distortions scale for Adults (EDC-A). Correlation analysis was performed to observe the relationship between PTSD severity and cognitive functioning. Correlations between cognitive distortions and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies were calculated for the PTSD group. Amoderation analysis of the whole sample was conducted to examine the relationship between cognitive distortions, emotion regulation strategies, and PTSD. Participants with PTSD scored significantly higher on the PCL‑5 and for dissociation than the other groups. PCL‑5 scores were positively correlated with maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and acceptance. They were also correlated with positive and negative dichotomous reasoning and negative minimization. Analysis of the PTSD group revealed correlations between maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and negative cognitive distortions. The moderation analysis revealed the cognitive distortions explaining the relationship between emotion regulation strategies and trauma exposure overall, and how they exacerbate emotional problems in PTSD. The study provides indications for management of PTSD patients. Inclusion of an intermediate group of individuals exposed to trauma without PTSD revealed differences in the observed alterations. It would be interesting to extend the cross-sectional observation design to study traumatic events that may cause aspecific type of disorder.

Création de l’Échelle de Distorsions Cognitives pour adultes (EDC-A) : étude des propriétés psychométriques en population générale et association avec l’anxiété et la dépression

IntroductionCognitive distortions contribute to the maintenance of inappropriate cognitive schemas and play a role in the emergence of pathologies such as anxiety and depression. We developed the Cognitive Distortion Scale for Adults in order to identify distortions in individuals’ reasoning. The main objectives of this study were: (1) to study the psychometric properties of the Cognitive Distortion Scale for Adults, (2) to identify cognitive distortions associated with anxiety and depression in the general population. MethodThe study involved 916 participants (151 men and 765 women) aged 18 to 85-years. The participants completed the Cognitive Distortion Scale for Adults. The tool presents 42 mini scenarios with a daily life situation and a proposition concerning a cognitive distortion. Participants must give their degree of agreement (0 to 10) with this one. Seven cognitive distortions are operationalized (dichotomous reasoning, disqualification of one of the poles, arbitrary focusing, omission of the neutral, requalification in the other pole, maximization and minimization). They also completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Both scales were available online on the Internet. The total duration of the test was approximately 10minutes. A group of 35 participants completed the two scale 15 days apart. ResultsThe sub-dimensions of EDC-A obtain Cronbach alphas higher than .65 and EDC-A has a coherent factor structure. The scale has good temporal stability. Anxiety is predicted by dichotomous reasoning, disqualification of one of the poles, arbitrary focusing and maximization. Depression is predicted by dichotomous reasoning, arbitrary focusing, omission of the neutral and requalification in the other pole. Anxiety and depression are associated with negative cognitive distortions in reasoning. However, depression is also associated with positive cognitive distortions. Subjects with depression produce more varied cognitive distortions than subjects with anxiety. DiscussionThe Cognitive Distortion Scale for Adults shows promising psychometric properties. Further studies will need to be conducted to confirm these results. Anxiety would be related to biased information treatment of negative information, whereas depression would be related to more comprehensive biased information treatment, both negative and positive information. Anxiety would be related to suboptimal functioning of reasoning abilities; depression would be more characterized by a structural deficit of reasoning abilities.

Cognitive styles in depressed children with and without comorbid conduct disorder

Little is known about patterns of cognitive impairment in depression comorbid with conduct disorder. The study included clinically depressed children with (N = 23) or without conduct disorder (N = 29), and controls without psychiatric disorder (N = 37). Cognitive biases typical of depression and patterns of social information processing were assessed. Both depressed groups had substantially higher rates of negative cognitive distortions, attributional biases and ruminative responses than non-depressed children. Children in the comorbid group made more hostile attributions and suggested more aggressive responses for dealing with threatening social situations, whilst children with depression only were more likely to be unassertive. Depression has a number of similar depressotypic cognitive biases whether or not complicated by conduct disorder, and may be potentially susceptible to similar interventions. The results also highlight the importance of recognising social information processing deficits when they occur and targeting those too, especially in comorbid presentations.

The impact of cognitive distortions, stress, and adherence on metabolic control in youths with type 1 diabetes

Purpose To investigate the role of cognitive distortions in the relationship between adherence behavior, diabetes-specific stress, general stress, and metabolic control. Methods Obtained questionnaire data, glucometer readings, and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbgA 1c) assays from 143 youths (11–18 years old) with type 1 diabetes. Examined path model of relationships between cognitive distortions, stress, adherence behavior, and metabolic control. Data were analyzed using path analysis. Results Higher levels of negative cognitive distortions were associated with more stress (both diabetes-specific and general). Higher levels of general stress then led to less adherent behavior and subsequently poorer metabolic control (higher HbgA 1c). More diabetes-specific stress also led to poorer metabolic control, as well as general stress. Conclusions The findings indicate an indirect role of negative cognitive distortions in metabolic control. The current findings suggest that instead of the proposed direct link between cognitive distortions and adherence behavior, an indirect relationship may exist through stress.