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The Efficacy of Intolerance of Uncertainty Intervention on Anxiety and its Mediating Role by Multilayer Linear Model Analysis

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Abstract

Cognitive bias modification-interpretation (CBM-I) is a promising treatment modality for emotional disorders. But the moderate effect sizes emphasize the need to explore the potential mechanism of the CBM-I. Recent research has identified intolerance of uncertainty (IU) as a possible a trans-diagnostic risk and maintaining factor emotional disorders. The current study investigated the impact of a four-session IU-focused CBM-I on reduction of anxiety and determined whether IU mediated the relationship between IU interpretation bias and anxiety. 40 participants selected based on a high IU interpretation bias (IU-IB) were randomly assigned to an active (IU CBM-I) condition and a control CBM-I condition. By longitudinal design, anxiety and uncertainty questionnaires were administered before, after and one month after the intervention. Multilayer linear model analysis indicated that the active IU CBM-I was significantly associated with changes in anxiety from pre-to-post intervention as well as reductions in IU at post-intervention and month-one follow-up. The results also found that IU mediated the relationship between IU interpretation bias and anxiety.

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Notes

  1. We also conducted a sensitivity analysis that includes all randomized subjects and the pattern of findings was consistent with those reported for the completer sample.

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Author notes

  1. Ji Li and Jinfan Gao contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Key Laboratory of Learning and Cognition and School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100037, China

    Ji Li, Jinfan Gao, Qin Zhang & Lixia Cui

  2. Department of Applied Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA

    Chieh Li

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  1. Ji Li
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  2. Jinfan Gao
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Correspondence to Lixia Cui.

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Author Ji Li declares that she has no conflict of interest. Author Jinfan Gao declares that she has no conflict of interest. Author Qin Zhang declares that she has no conflict of interest. Author Chieh Li declares that she has no conflict of interest. Author Lixia Cui declares that she has no conflict of interest.

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Li, J., Gao, J., Zhang, Q. et al. The Efficacy of Intolerance of Uncertainty Intervention on Anxiety and its Mediating Role by Multilayer Linear Model Analysis. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 43, 142–151 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-020-09832-5

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