Category: Translational
Hayley Fitzgerald, M.A.
Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts
M. Alexandra Kredlow, Ph.D.
Tufts University
Medford, Massachusetts
Michael Otto, Ph.D.
Professor
Boston University
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts
Hayley Fitzgerald, M.A.
Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts
Haoxue Fan, M.A.
Graduate Student
Department of Psychology, Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Nubia Mayorga, B.S., M.A.
University of Houston
Houston, Texas
M. Alexandra Kredlow, Ph.D.
Tufts University
Medford, Massachusetts
Identifying mechanisms related to the development and/or amelioration of mental health symptoms offers the potential for greater treatment efficacy and more personalized medicine. This is especially relevant at the current time as the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increase in mental health symptoms across both general and clinical populations (Robinson et al., 2022) as well as an increased demand for therapy. Currently, it is particularly important to understand how COVID-19 related emotional distress may interact with known mechanisms important for understanding emotional disorders. Research in this area may contribute to the identification of more efficient or efficacious treatment strategies.
Three key cognitive mechanisms that we will examine in the current symposium are intolerance of uncertainty (IU), experiential avoidance (EA), and memory processes. IU (i.e., difficulty tolerating uncertain situations or outcomes) is widely accepted as a transdiagnostic risk and maintenance factor for emotional disorders (Shihata et al., 2016). Given the inherent uncertain nature of the pandemic, IU may be an important factor that interacts with COVID-19-related emotional distress. Speaker 1 will present results of a study examining IU and how it relates to COVID-19 emotional responses and behaviors. EA (i.e. the avoidance of negative internal experiences) has also been linked to the development of emotional disorders and identified as a mechanism of change in CBT. Fear of contracting COVID-19 has resulted in considerable behavioral avoidance, but also EA, to a sometimes excessive degree. EA may thus contribute to emotional distress during the pandemic and potentially be an important treatment target for some individuals. Speaker 2 will present data on EA and how this relates to COVID-19 fear and emotional distress associated with economic adversity and social distancing in a sample of ethnic minority individuals. Finally, we know that memories of stressful experiences, such as the pandemic, can contribute to the etiology/maintenance of emotional disorders and also that the consolidation of memory for therapeutic learning plays an important role in CBT success. With regard to memory consolidation, depending on the degree, stress can either interfere with or enhance encoding and memory consolidation. As the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased stress levels across patient populations, it is important to consider how COVID-19 related stress may impact memory consolidation. Additionally, memories of the COVID-19 pandemic and one’s experience of it may also play a role in the development/maintenance of psychopathology. Speaker 3 will present results of a longitudinal study examining memory for pandemic-related stress and exploring how inaccurate recollection of stress impacts emotional well-being. Lastly, Speaker 4 will present data on the impact of COVID-related stress on memory updating for neutral and COVID-related material. The Discussant will contextualize these findings with regard to their implications for the development/maintenance of emotional disorders and their amelioration with CBT.
Presenter: Hayley E. Fitzgerald, M.A. – Boston University
Co-author: E. Parsons, Ph.D. – Boston University
Co-author: Teresa Indriolo, PhD – Massachusetts general Hospital
Co-author: Nadine R. Taghian, M.A. – Boston University
Co-author: Alexandra K. Gold, M.A. – Massachusetts General Hospital
Co-author: Danielle Hoyt, M.A. – Rutgers
Co-author: Megan A. Milligan, B.S. – University of New Hampshire
Co-author: Michael J. Zvolensky, Ph.D. – University of Houston
Co-author: Michael Otto, Ph.D. – Boston University
Presenter: Haoxue Fan, M.A. – Department of Psychology, Harvard University
Co-author: Haoxue Fan, M.A. – Department of Psychology, Harvard University
Co-author: Juan Castillo, PhD – Department of Psychology, Harvard university
Co-author: Olivia T. Karaman, PhD – Harvard University
Co-author: Jocelyn Shu, Ph.D. – Department of Psychology, Harvard university
Co-author: Yoann Stussi, Ph.D. – Department of Psychology, University of Geneva
Co-author: M. Alexandra Kredlow, Ph.D. – Tufts University
Co-author: Sophia Vranos, None – Department of Psychology, Harvard university
Co-author: Javiera Oyarzun, Ph.D. – Harvard University
Co-author: Hayley Dorfman, Ph.D. – Department of Psychology, Harvard university
Co-author: Deshawn Sambrano, M.A. – Department of Psychology, Harvard university
Co-author: Elizabeth A. Phelps, Ph.D. – Harvard University
Presenter: Nubia A. Mayorga, B.S., M.A. – University of Houston
Co-author: Kara Manning, M.A. – University of Houston
Co-author: Jaye L. Derrick, Ph.D. – University of Houston
Co-author: Andres G. Viana, ABPP, Ph.D. – University of Houston
Co-author: Lorra Garey, Ph.D – University of Houston
Co-author: Pamella Nizio, B.S. – University of Houston
Co-author: Cameron Matoska, B.S. – University of Houston
Co-author: Michael J. Zvolensky, Ph.D. – University of Houston
Presenter: M. Alexandra Kredlow, Ph.D. – Tufts University
Co-author: Sophia Vranos, None – Department of Psychology, Harvard university
Co-author: Olivia T. Karaman, PhD – Harvard University
Co-author: Nur Akpolat, Undergraduate – Tufts University
Co-author: Elizabeth A. Phelps, Ph.D. – Harvard University