In:
Psychopathology, S. Karger AG, Vol. 47, No. 3 ( 2014), p. 174-184
Abstract:
〈 b 〉 〈 i 〉 Background: 〈 /i 〉 〈 /b 〉 Racing thoughts, crowded thoughts and flight of ideas are frequent symptoms in mood disorders, but the underlying subjective experience of overactivation of thought processes remains poorly documented. 〈 b 〉 〈 i 〉 Methods: 〈 /i 〉 〈 /b 〉 Qualitative analysis of audiotaped interviews explored subjective experience of thought overactivation in patients with mood disorders (sample 1, n = 45). Quantitative analysis considered the properties of a newly developed rating scale in sample 1, in an additional sample of patients with mood disorders (sample 2, n = 37) and in healthy subjects (sample 3, n = 38). 〈 b 〉 〈 i 〉 Results: 〈 /i 〉 〈 /b 〉 Qualitative analysis of individual interviews revealed that 5 conceptual categories characterized thought overactivation: sequential thought flow, overstimulation, competition for resource allocation, unexpected/unexplained onset, and association with mood and emotions. A principal component analysis of the initial 16-item rating scale indicated that a single component explained 55.9% of the variance, with major and exclusive contributions from 9 items, which were retained in the final 9-item Subjective Thought Overactivation Questionnaire (STOQ; Cronbach's α = 0.95). Total score correlated significantly with activation, depression and perceived conflict subscales of the Internal State Scale (ISS; r 〈 sub 〉 s 〈 /sub 〉 = 0.57-0.66, p 〈 0.001). It was associated with decreased well-being (ISS; r 〈 sub 〉 s 〈 /sub 〉 = -0.48, p = 0.001) and increased state anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; r 〈 sub 〉 s 〈 /sub 〉 = 0.60, p 〈 0.001). The STOQ score was significantly higher in patients than in healthy subjects. It allowed distinguishing between ISS mood states, with the highest median score in mixed states. 〈 b 〉 〈 i 〉 Limitations: 〈 /i 〉 〈 /b 〉 Sample size, representativeness, possible bias in qualitative analysis, and quality of expert consensus. 〈 b 〉 〈 i 〉 Conclusions: 〈 /i 〉 〈 /b 〉 Qualitative analysis of clinical interviews, together with a new short rating scale, contributed to a documentation of subjective thought overactivation, an important but often undetected feature in mood disorders.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0254-4962
,
1423-033X
Language:
English
Publisher:
S. Karger AG
Publication Date:
2014
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1483565-4
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