BACKGROUND Cognitive models of psychosis propose that appraisals (ie, the interpretation and meaning attributed to experiences) are central to the transition from anomalous experiences to psychotic symptoms. In the Unusual Experiences Enquiry (UNIQUE) study, we investigated the role of appraisals by comparing individuals with persistent psychotic experiences without a need for care with patient...

Abstract It is well established in educational research that metacognitive monitoring of performance assessed by self-reports, for instance, asking students to report their confidence provided answers, based on heuristic cues rather than actual success the task. Subjective self-reports are also used cognitive load, where they refer perceived amount mental effort invested or difficulty each task...

OBJECTIVE The stress-induced release of cortisol has been linked to detrimental health outcomes. Therefore, strategies to attenuate cortisol stress responses are of interest for prevention and treatment of stress-related symptoms and problems. Previous studies have found protective effects of cognitive-behavioral stress management training--which focuses on the modification of stress-inducing c...

AIMS To examine the self-critical thoughts and self-reassuring meta-cognitive capacity of those who hear voices and explore whether they are associated with the theme of voice content and appraisals of voice power and voice expressed emotion. METHOD A cross-sectional design was used, combining semi-structured interviews and self-report measures. Data on symptomatology, self-critical thoughts ...

Snramary--Recent theories of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) emphasize the importance of cognitive contents (beliefs and appraisals) and cognitive processes in the etiology and maintenance of OCD. In order to evaluate these theories and to assess the mechanisms of treatment-related change, it is necessary to develop measures of the relevant cognitive contents and processes. Several scales h...

Looming vulnerability pertains to a distinct cognitive phenomenology characterized by mental representations of dynamically intensifying danger and rapidly rising risk as one projects the self into an anticipated future [J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 79 (2000) 837]. While looming appraisals can be experienced as state elicitation, some individuals are hypothesized to develop an enduring cognitive patt...