Symposia
Cognitive Science/ Cognitive Processes
Emily M. O'Bryan, Ph.D.
Endicott College
Newton, Massachusetts
Kristen M. Kraemer, Ph.D.
Instructor of Medicine
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School
Boston, Massachusetts
Christina M. Luberto, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Harvard Medical School
Boston, Massachusetts
Anishka Jean, PhD
Doctoral Student
Department of Psychology, West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia
Kate Everhardt, B.S.
Research Coordinator, Anxiety Disorders Center
The Institute of Living
Hartford, Connecticut
Liya Mammo, PhD
Psychology Trainee
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Gretchen J. Diefenbach, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist and Research Program Coordinator, Anxiety Disorder Center
The Institute of Living
Hartford, Connecticut
David Tolin, ABPP, Ph.D.
Director
Anxiety Disorders Center, The Institute of Living
Hartford, Connecticut
Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and anxiety sensitivity (AS) are well-documented vulnerabilities for anxiety-related disorders and their comorbidities. IU is thought to exacerbate AS, or fear of anxiety-related symptoms, such that difficulty tolerating uncertainty-related distress (IU) in general may impede one’s ability to tolerate the uncertainty regarding possible negative consequences of anxiety-related symptoms specifically. Interventions designed to simultaneously target these interrelated processes may offer maximal benefit for anxiety-related problems. Research has demonstrated the utility of mindfulness-based interventions for improving affect tolerance factors, including AS and IU; however, no research, to date, has sought to develop and evaluate a brief, online mindfulness-based intervention to target IU and AS. We hypothesized that a single-session mindfulness-based intervention for IU and AS would be feasible, acceptable, and result in greater improvements in IU and AS relative to a health education control. This ongoing RCT will include N=50 individuals with elevated IU or AS who are either treatment-seeking for an anxiety-related problem or report a history of an anxiety-related problem and at least a moderate level of current anxiety (self-rated CGI). Thus far, 31 participants (Mage = 39.8; 71% Female;13.3% Hispanic; 3.2% Black, 6.5% Asian) have been randomized (n = 16 to mindfulness). Preliminary analyses in the mindfulness condition indicated good comprehension (average = 90%) and compliance with the in-session mindfulness meditation (87.5%) at immediate post-intervention (i.e., feasibility). Participants reported good acceptability as indicated by perceived helpfulness (M = 3.87 out of 5, SD = .92), quality (M = 4.13, SD = 1.06), satisfaction (M = 3.93, SD = .88), and potential helpfulness in navigating future anxiety and uncertainty (M = 4.13, SD = .83). Eighty percent indicated they might recommend the intervention to others. At one-week follow-up, participants in the mindfulness condition reported practicing the formal and informal mindfulness practices an average of 4.18 times and 5.36 times, respectively (out of 7 suggested for each). Between-condition effect sizes indicated a small effect in favor of mindfulness for changes in IU from baseline to one-month follow-up (d = .25) and minimal effect for AS (d = .14). Overall, the mindfulness intervention appears feasible and acceptable. Efficacy findings in the full sample will be presented and clinical implications will be discussed.