Associations Between Repetitive Negative Thinking and Habituation of Defensive Responding Within and Between Sessions.

ABSTRACT: Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is a transdiagnostic risk factor for internalizing psychopathology, and theoretical models suggest that RNT may maintain symptoms by interfering with psychophysiological habituation. The present study therefore examined associations between RNT and habituation within and between study sessions. Community members (N=86) completed a habituation task involving exposure to acoustic probes at up to five sessions spaced 7 days apart on average. Eyeblink startle response was measured using the electromyography startle magnitude. Self-reported anxiety was assessed before and after the habituation task at each session. Multilevel growth curve modeling indicated that RNT was associated with a higher "floor" (i.e., asymptote) of startle responding as evidence

SUBMITTER: Funkhouser CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9537406 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature