Article

Selective processing of threat cues in anxiety states: a replication.

Behaviour Research and Therapy (impact factor: 3.3). 02/1989; 27(4):317-23. pp.317-23
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT A replication of Mathews and MacLeod's (Behav. Res. Ther. 23, 563-569, 1985) study, using a modified Stroop task, confirmed that threat words selectively interfere with the colour-naming performance of generally anxious patients, compared with normal controls. Clearer evidence was obtained of a highly specific interference effect of threat words that were congruent with the predominant worries reported by anxious patients. However, there was no evidence of a subsequent recognition memory bias for the threat words in anxious Ss. These results are discussed in relation to findings from other recent experiments investigating attentional and memory biases for threat-related information in anxiety states, and their implications for cognitive theories of anxiety are considered.

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Keywords

anxiety states
 
anxious Ss
 
Clearer evidence
 
cognitive theories
 
Mathews
 
memory biases
 
modified Stroop task
 
normal controls
 
predominant worries
 
recent experiments
 
Res
 
specific interference effect
 
subsequent recognition memory bias
 
threat words
 
threat-related information