Transcript Mindfulness and Experiential Avoidance as Predictors of Posttraumatic

Brian Thompson, PhD, & Jennifer Waltz, PhD
ACBS World Conference
June 24, 2010
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Criterion A: Trauma exposure.
Criterion B: Reexperiencing symptoms.
Criterion C: Avoidance and Emotional
Numbing symptoms.
Criterion D: Hyperarousal symptoms.
Criterion E: Symptoms > 1 month.
Criterion F: Clinically significant impairment
across areas of functioning.
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An unwillingness to remain in contact with
and taking steps to alter private experiences
(e.g., thoughts, emotions, physiological
sensations).
◦ EA and PTSD
(Polusny & Follette, 1995; Rosenthal, Hall, Palm, Batten,
& Follette, 2005; Tull, Gratz, Salters, & Roemer, 2004; Vujanovic,
Youngwirth, Johnson, & Zvolensky, 2009).
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In PTSD literature:
◦ Alexithymia
(e.g., Badura, 2003; Frewen et al., 2008; Fukunishi et al.,
1996 Kosten et al., 1992; Söndergaard & Theorell, 2004; Stewart et al.,
2002).
◦ Thought suppression
(e.g., Mayou, Ehlers, & Bryant, 2002;
Shipherd & Beck, 1999, 2005; Steil & Ehlers, 2000).
◦ Avoidant Coping
(e.g., Gil, 2005; Scarpa, Haden, & Hurley, 2006).
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Two components
◦ Contact with present moment
◦ Acceptance/Willingness
 Antithetical to experiential avoidance
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Hypotheses:
◦ PTSD avoidance symptom severity will be related
to higher experiential avoidance and lower
mindfulness.
◦ Mindfulness will predict the variance in PTSD
avoidance symptom severity above and beyond
that of experiential avoidance.
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Measures
◦ Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS; Foa, Cashman,
Jaycox, & Perry, 1997).
◦ Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ; Baer, Smith,
Hopkins, Krietemeyer, & Toney, 2006).
◦ Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ; Hayes at al.,
2004).
◦ Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20; Bagby, Parker, &
Taylor, 1994a, 1994b).
◦ White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI; Wegner &
Zanakos, 1994).
◦ Coping in Stressful Situations (CISS; Endler & Parker, 1994).
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Participants
◦ 378 Introductory Psychology students.
 PTSD (n = 44); trauma-no PTSD (n = 147); control (n =
123)
 PSS group (n = 191)
Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficients for PDS PSS Sample
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Measures
PDS Avoidance
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FFMQ Observe
.05
FFMQ Describe
-.18*
FFMQ Act
-.32**
FFMQ Nonjudge
-.37**
FFMQ Nonreact
-.20**
AAQ
.34**
WBSI
.42**
TAS Factor 1
.48**
TAS Factor 2
.32**
TAS Factor 3
.05
CISS Emotion
.39**
CISS Avoidance
-.03
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* p < .05, ** p < .01
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The AAQ and FFMQ.
◦ AAQ [p < .01, adjusted R² = .11]
◦ AAQ and FFMQ: [p < .01; adjusted R² = .17]
The TAS-20 Factors 1 and FFMQ.
◦ TAS-20 Factor 1 (identify feelings) [p < .01, adjusted R² =
.23]
◦ TAS and FFMQ: [p < .01; adjusted R² = .25]
The WBSI and FFMQ.
◦ WBSI [p < .01, adjusted R² = .18]
◦ WBSI and FFMQ: [p < .01; adjusted R² = .21]
The CISS emotional coping and FFMQ.
◦ CISS emotion oriented [p < .01, adjusted R² = .15]
◦ CISS and FFMQ: [p < .01; adjusted R² = .19]
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PTSD avoidance symptoms were positively
correlated with measures of experiential
avoidance and negatively correlated with
mindfulness.
Mindfulness—particularly, acceptance or
nonjudgment of experience—predicted
additional variance above and beyond
experiential avoidance.
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Undergraduate sample.
Self-report PTSD measure.
Cross-sectional design.
[email protected]
Thompson, B. L.. & Waltz, J. (2010). Mindfulness and experiential
avoidance as predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder avoidance
symptom severity. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 24, 409-415.