Excessive and uncontrollable worry has been associated with deficits in attention control. The Attention Training Technique (ATT; Wells, 1990) is a 12-minute audio recording that was developed to train attention control, so that individuals could learn to shift their attention away from maladaptive cognitive processes such as worry. The technique has shown to be promising at reducing symptoms across a variety of mental disorders (Knowles, Foden, El-Deredy, \& Wells, 2016) and is recommended for use in people who suffer from chronic worry. To date, little research has been conducted examining the benefits of using this technique in such a population. The present study aims to examine the immediate and short term effects of weekly ATT practice, compared to a control condition, in a population that suffers from high levels of worry about a variety of topics. About one-hundred participants who suffer from chronic worry will be randomly assigned to listen to the ATT or a control recording, every day for a week. Changes in attention control, worry, and cognitive processes will be examined over the course of the intervention period.
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Breathing Focus Task -Negative Intrusions
Timeframe: Administered three times over the course of two weeks. Changes will be examined from Visit 1 (Baseline) to Visit 2 (Preintervention, 1 week following Baseline) and Visit 2 to Visit 3 (1 week following preintervention).
Daily Worry Questions
Timeframe: Completed every evening for two weeks. The first week will take place before beginning the ATT/ control intervention. The second week will take place during the intervention period.