Appraisal of cognitive intrusions and response style: replication and extension.

In a replication and extension of an earlier study of cognitive intrusions, appraisal and response strategies (Freeston, Ladouceur, Thibodeau & Gagnon, Behaviour Research and Therapy, 29, 585-597, 1991a), cognitive intrusions were studied among 534 outpatients and escorts recruited in waiting rooms of two large urban hospitals. Appraisals of high probability and low disapproval were associated with greater use of continued attention strategies whereas appraisals of low probability and high disapproval were associated with greater use of escape/avoidance strategies. These results support the distinction between the ego-dystonic nature of obsessional intrusive thoughts and ego-syntonic concerns about subjectively probable events found in worry.