MARS
Mood and Anxiety Research in Sussex
Dr Suzanne Dash
s.dash@sussex.ac.uk

Worry

Heuristic Systematic Model
 What is systematic processing?
 When does it happen?

Why might worriers systematically process?

Clinical Implications

Conclusions

“ a chain of thoughts and images, negatively affectladen and relatively uncontrollable” (Borkovec et al., 1983, p.10)

Catastrophising (Davey & Levy, 1998a)

Themes of personal inadequacy (Davey & Levy, 1998b)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (APA, DSM-IV-TR, 4th ed, 2000)
Social anxiety (Purdon & Harrington, 2006)
Panic disorder (Purdon & Harrington, 2006)
 Hypochondriasis (Purdon & Harrington, 2006)
 OCD checking and doubting (Tallis & DeSilva, 1992)
 Psychosis (Startup, Freeman & Garety, 2007)


 Negative mood
 Intolerance of uncertainty
 Problem-solving confidence
Increase worry
perseveration
Q. How do these variables increase worry?
A.(???) Alter the way we process information
17 × 24
17 × 24
1.
SP: detailed, analytical processing
Worry: persistent, detailed processing
2.
Worry and SP arise through unconscious/nondeliberative means
3.
SP deployed when confidence is unsatisfactory
Worriers strive to feel prepared, consider all possible
negative outcomes, feel confident that they can cope
4.
Influenced by similar cognitive appraisals and
cognitive states
5.
Similar functional neuroanatomy

Systematic processing
 “An analytic orientation in which perceivers access
and scrutinize all informational input for its
relevance and importance... and integrate all useful
information in forming their judgements”
(Chaiken et al., 1989, p. 212)
Q. How much processing do I need to do to be
confident in my judgement?
Not much, I
don’t need to
be that
confident
Heuristic
processing
Lots, I need to be
very confident
Systematic
processing
Heuristic
processing
Systematic
processing
Maheswaran & Chaiken (1991)
Heuristic
processing
Systematic
processing
Maheswaran & Chaiken (1991)
Q. How much processing do I need to do to be
confident in my judgement?
Actual
Desired
 Systematic
processing
 worry
Construct/
Appraisal
Definition
Accountability
Pressure to justify one’s
Livingston & Sinclair
opinions
(2008); Tetlock (1983)
(Erb et al., 2007; Livingston &
Sinclair, 2008)
Brain et al.
(2008);
Sweet & PeltonSweet (2008)
Responsibility
“one has power which is
pivotal to bring about or
prevent subjectively crucial
negative outcomes”
(Salkovskis et al., 1992)
Bohner et al.. (1995);
Uleman (1989)
Startup &
Davey (2003)
Need for
cognition
“a need to structure relevant
situations in meaningful,
integrated ways”
(Cohen et al., 1955, p. 21)
Batra & Stayman
Davey, Tallis et
(1990);
al. (1996);
Cacioppo et al. (1983) Startup &
Davey (2001)
Desire for
Control
Motive to control events in
one’s life
Swann et al. (1981)
Borkovec
(1994)

Worriers experience greater endemic negative affect
(Davey, Hampton, Farrell, & Davidson, 1992; Meyer, Miller, Metzger, & Borkovec, 1990; Tallis, Eysenck,
& Mathews, 1991; Metzger, Miller, Cohen, Sofka, & Borkovec, 1990; Wisocki, Handen & Morse, 1986)
Construct/
Appraisal
Definition
 Systematic processing
 worry
Negative
“a dimension of subjective
distress and unpleasurable
engagement”
(Watson et al., 1988, p.1063)
Ambady & Gray (2002);
Bodenhausen et al.
(1994);
Bohner et al. (1998);
Tiedens & Linton (2001)
Johnston & Davey
(1997);
Startup & Davey
(2001)
Mood
Sufficiency
threshold
Negative mood
Worry (PSWQ)
Unmediated: b = 8.21, p = .01
Mediated: b = 4.13, p = .12


Correlates with trait worry (Buhr & Dugas, 2006)
Causes worry (Meeten et al. 2012)

Drives ‘what if...?’ thinking


Seek more information before decision-making (Carleton et al., 2007)
Is associated with desire for control
 OCD (Moulding & Kyrios, 2007)
 Anorexia nervosa (Sternheim et al., 2011)
Desired
IU increases desired confidence


Correlates with worry (Belzer et al., 2002; Davey, 1994; Davey & Levy, 1998a)
Causes worry (Davey, Jubb & Cameron, 1996)


Deplete confidence that goals are met for worry
Low PSC increases uncertainty (Tormala et al., 2008)
 detailed processing (e.g. Weary & Jacobson, 1997)
Actual
Low PSC decreases actual confidence

Raised sufficiency thresholds
 Experience negative mood
 Intolerant of uncertainty
 Discrepancy between desired confidence and actual
confidence
 Feel accountable and responsible
 Desire control of, and have a high need for cognition about,
worry-related cognitions

Socialisation to two processing modes allows dialogue of
when it is useful to deploy effortful processing, and when it is
unnecessary

Attention should be paid to appraisals that raise sufficiency
thresholds
 Responsibility, accountability, desire for control

Hirsch & Mathews – top-down and bottom-up processes –
most effective treatments may tackle both. Combine with
cognitive bias modification?

Treat comorbid low mood

Worry occurs across a range of psychopathologies, as well as
in the general population

Key dispositional factors exhibited by worriers – low PSC, IU
and negative mood – are all likely to widen the gap between
actual and desired confidence – raising the sufficiency
threshold

Worriers will deploy systematic processing in an attempt to
meet their sufficiency threshold

Clinical implications include challenging appraisals that raise
sufficiency thresholds in conjunction with targeting heuristic
processes
Professor Graham
Davey
Graduate Teaching Assistantship
Dr Frances
Meeten

Any questions?

S.dash@sussex.ac.uk