Desire thinking as a confounder in the relationship between mindfulness and craving: Evidence from a cross-cultural validation of the Desire Thinking Questionnaire

Evaluating the effect of detached mindfulness techniques on gaming-related urges and intentions to play

Individuals who struggle to regulate their gaming involvement, particularly those with gaming disorder, often report strong subjective urges to play games. Desire thinking has been proposed to be an active driver of urge, and therefore disrupting desire thinking processes may reduce urges to play. Detached mindfulness, a meta-cognitive therapy technique, is a candidate option for reducing desire thinking, but the available research in relation to gaming is limited. To address this gap, this pre-registered study employed a 3 (Group: mindfulness, relaxation, control) x 3 (Time: baseline, pre-task, post-task) mixed experimental design to evaluate the effectiveness of different techniques to reduce gaming urges. Gamers (N = 337) were recruited via the crowd-sourcing platform Prolific. Participants were administered interactive video-based tasks that induced gaming-related desire thinking and were then randomly delivered one of three techniques. Results showed that the desire thinking exercise significantly increased gaming urge. However, the detached mindfulness technique had no significant effect on urge to play, whereas relaxation significantly reduced urge compared to control. The effect of relaxation on urge was stronger for those with moderate to high impulsivity. These results support the proposed link between desire thinking and gaming urge. Gaming urges may be reliably induced using a brief self-guided protocol, which has applications for interventions involving exposure exercises without the use of physical gaming stimuli. Relaxation techniques may have short-term utility in reducing gaming-related urges. Further research should examine other meta-cognitive therapy-based techniques to support a broader research program on CBT for gaming disorder.

Desire Thinking About Gambling: Assessment and Associations With Gambling Disorder and Responsible Gambling Among Chinese Gamblers

Desire thinking, within the metacognitive model of addictive behaviors, is conceptualized as a transdiagnostic process linked to the escalation and maintenance of craving for various addictive disorders; however, its application to the understanding of gambling and the Chinese community remains at an early stage. The present study aimed to introduce desire thinking into gambling research in the Chinese context by: (1) testing the applicability of its two-factor conceptualization and assessment tool, the Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ), and (2) exploring its association with dysregulated and regulated engagements in gambling (i.e., Gambling Disorder [GD] and responsible gambling [RG], respectively). We conducted a telephone survey in Macao, China, and obtained a probability sample of 837 Chinese adult past-year gamblers (48.5% men; age: M = 41.11, SD = 14.31) with a two-stage cluster random sampling method. Our data indicated the psychometric adequacy of the two-factor DTQ (i.e., verbal perseveration and imaginal prefiguration) for measuring Chinese gamblers' desire thinking about gambling. After controlling for craving and demographics, desire thinking contributed to an additional 12.1% and 18.9% variance explained in GD tendency and RG behaviors, respectively. This study provides the first empirical evidence of the utility of desire thinking and the DTQ in facilitating gambling research on Chinese gamblers. Our findings also suggest the value of incorporating desire thinking in detecting and treating GD and in promoting RG.

Group based metacognitive therapy for alcohol use disorder: a pilot study

Introduction

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a severe clinical disorder, which has been associated with 5.3% of death worldwide. Although several treatments have been developed to improve AUD symptomatology, treatment effects were moderate, with a certain amount of patients displaying symptom deterioration after treatment termination. Moreover, outpatient treatment placements become increasingly scarce, thus necessitating more efficient treatment options. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability of a newly invented, short, group based metacognitive therapy (MCT) for patients diagnosed with AUD.

Method

Seven patients were treated with eight sessions of group based MCT using a single case series design with an A-B replication across patients. Patients were assessed one month and one week before treatment, as well as one week and three months after treatment termination.

Results

Patients improved significantly and with large effect sizes regarding dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs, desire thinking/craving and depressive symptoms up to three months after treatment termination. AUD symptomatology as well as positive and negative metacognitive beliefs improved at post-treatment, but improvements could not be maintained at follow-up. All included patients completed the treatment and were highly satisfied.

Conclusion

The presented findings show preliminary evidence for the efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability of the implemented group based MCT treatment. Large scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed to confirm the effectiveness of the developed program for patients diagnosed with AUD.

Psychometric validation of the Chinese version of the desire thinking questionnaire in adolescent mobile phone users

BACKGROUND

Desire thinking is a conscious and voluntary cognitive process that is closely linked to levels of craving and addictive behaviors. The Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ) can be used to measure desire thinking in all age groups as well as in addicts. This measurement has also been translated into several languages. This study aimed to test the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the DTQ (DTQ-C) among adolescent mobile phone users.

METHODS

One thousand and ninety-seven adolescents who own a mobile phone and are younger than 18 years old completed the DTQ-C and a battery of questionnaires assessing the big five personality traits, negative affect, brooding, self-control, craving, and problematic mobile phone use (PMPU). The psychometric analyses of the DTQ-C were conducted, including exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), reliability, and validity analysis.

RESULTS

The EFA revealed a 10-item two-factor structure (i.e., verbal perseveration and imaginal prefiguration) that was confirmed by the CFA. The results of CFA showed fit indexes of χ²/df = 4.83, CFI = 0.967, TLI = 0.954, RMSEA = 0.059, SRMR = 0.032. The total scale had internal consistency reliabilities of 0.93, which demonstrated that DTQ-C presented good reliability. The two dimensions were correlated with PMPU (r_{verbal perseveration} = 0.54; r_{imaginal prefiguration} = 0.45), neuroticism (r_{verbal perseveration} = 0.18; r_{imaginal prefiguration} = 0.14), conscientiousness (r_{verbal perseveration} = -0.19; r_{imaginal prefiguration} = -0.18), depression (r_{verbal perseveration} = 0.22; r_{imaginal prefiguration} = 0.16), anxiety (r_{verbal perseveration} = 0.26; r_{imaginal prefiguration} = 0.22), stress (r_{verbal perseveration} = 0.15; r_{imaginal prefiguration} = 0.10) and self-control (r_{verbal perseveration} = -0.29; r_{imaginal prefiguration} = -0.26), which demonstrated that DTQ-C presented good concurrent validity. The two factors of DTQ-C correlated weakly with brooding (ranging from 0.08 to 0.10). The principal component factor analysis of the two dimensions of desire thinking and craving showed that craving and desire thinking belonged to different dimensions. Both of which showed good divergent validity of desire thinking. Additionally, an examination of incremental validity revealed that two factors were both positively associated with PMPU beyond demographic characteristics, big five personality traits, negative affect, and self-control (B_{verbal perseveration} = 0.49 and B_{imaginal prefiguration} = 0.13).

CONCLUSIONS

It has been found that the 10-item DTQ-C is a reliable and valid measure of desire thinking in Chinese adolescent mobile phone users.

Desire thinking as an underlying mechanism in alcohol use disorder and nicotine dependence

Desire thinking is an emerging construct in the addictive behaviours literature. No research, to date, has investigated its contribution to problematic alcohol use and nicotine dependence in patient samples when accounting for established predictors of addictive behaviours. The present study sought to clarify, in patient samples, the relative contribution of desire thinking in the associations between negative affect, impulsivity and thought suppression on the one hand and craving, problematic alcohol use and nicotine dependence on the other. To achieve this goal, two groups of individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) (n = 370; age range = 15-67 years) and nicotine dependence (n = 365; age range = 17-75 years) were selected, and measures of negative affect, impulsivity, thought suppression, craving, desire thinking, problematic alcohol use and nicotine dependence were completed by both groups. Results showed that in both groups, negative affect and thought suppression indirectly affected alcohol and nicotine craving, problematic alcohol use and nicotine dependence through the mediating role of desire thinking. The present study shows the independent role of desire thinking in predicting problematic alcohol use and nicotine dependence in patient samples, indicating its potential relevance for treatment.

The independent contribution of desire thinking to problematic social media use

In the present study, we investigated the role of desire thinking in problematic social media use (PSMU) whilst accounting for negative affect, impulsivity, and thought suppression. A sample of individuals with PSMU (n = 350) who used social media at least 8 h daily was recruited. Participants completed measures of negative affect, impulsivity, thought suppression, craving, desire thinking, and PSMU. Results indicated that negative affect, impulsivity, and thought suppression had significant indirect effects on craving and PSMU through the significant mediating role of desire thinking. The present study shows that desire thinking is an underlying mechanism linking established variables associated with PSMU (negative affect, impulsivity, and thought suppression) to craving and PSMU. Focusing efforts on the interruption of desire thinking may be beneficial to support individuals in disengaging from PSMU.

Psychometric validation of the desire thinking questionnaire in a Turkish adolescent sample: Associations with internet gaming disorder

BACKGROUND

Desire thinking is a conscious and voluntary cognitive process that consists of perseverative focus on information, memories, and prefiguration of images related to a desired target. The Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ) is acknowledged as a reliable and valid tool to measure desire thinking in both adults and adolescents. The aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the DTQ in Turkish adolescent sample.

METHODS

A convenience sample of 200 adolescents completed the Turkish version of the DTQ (DTQ-T) and an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was performed. Subsequently, a convenience sample of 701 adolescents completed the DTQ-T and a battery of questionnaires assessing personality traits, affect, boredom, impulsivity, and Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed on the DTQ-T and validity was determined by examining correlations with other measures.

RESULTS

A 9-item two-factor structure was observed in the EFA. An 8-item two-factor structure was established in the CFA. Results demonstrated that the DTQ-T yields adequate levels of reliability and concurrent validity. Additionally, an examination of incremental validity showed that DTQ-T significantly predicted IGD when controlling for personality traits, affect, boredom, and impulsivity.

CONCLUSIONS

The 8-item DTQ-T was found to be a reliable and valid measure of desire thinking among Turkish adolescents. Desire thinking may be a feasible target for mental health workers to alleviate the symptoms of IGD.

The desire thinking questionnaire-Persian version (DTQ-P) and its association with addictive behaviors in individuals with alcohol use disorder, nicotine dependence, and problematic social media use

Desire thinking is an emerging construct which has been shown to play a role in addictive behaviors. The present study sought to validate a translated Persian version of the Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ) in three groups of individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD; n = 300), nicotine dependence (n = 300), and problematic social media use (n = 300). All three groups completed the translated Persian version of the DTQ, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-15 (BIS-15), the White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI), and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Measures of alcohol use, nicotine dependence and problematic social media use were also collected. The results confirmed a two-factor structure of the Persian version of the DTQ with good reliability and validity in all three groups. Furthermore, both the verbal perseveration and imaginal prefiguration components of the Persian version of the DTQ were found to predict addictive behaviors beyond demographic and clinical characteristics, negative affect, impulsiveness, and thought suppression. The study confirms the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the DTQ and the role of desire thinking as an independent predictor of AUD, nicotine dependence, and the problematic use of social media.

Integrating Desire Thinking into the I-PACE Model: a Special Focus on Internet-Use Disorders

Purpose of Review

This manuscript aims to propose an integration of desire thinking into the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model based on theoretical considerations within the Elaborated Intrusion Theory of Desire and Self-Regulatory Execution Function model and empirical evidence from the field of internet-use disorders.

Recent Findings

Theory and research on desire thinking in the context of internet-use disorders suggest considerable relations to craving, metacognitive beliefs, and emphasizes its nature when initiated as a reaction towards unpleasant triggers. Accordingly, we postulate that desire thinking may be located at the position for affective and cognitive reactions towards triggers within the I-PACE model.

Summary

The suggested integration of desire thinking into the I-PACE model specifically implies the assumption of a relief-oriented and pleasure-oriented entry pathway into desire thinking and a feedback loop between desire thinking and the experience of gratification and compensation. The model pathways proposed here may serve as a theoretical basis for future research and need further empirical verification.

Cross-cultural adaptation of body image assessment instruments for university students: a systematic review

The theoretical-methodological process of cross-cultural adaptation of scales is fundamental for the expansion of research possibilities related to a given area and population, as instrument adequacy allows for the consistent assessment of the construct being studied. This article aims to highlight the different theoretical-methodological processes of cross-cultural adaptations of scales for assessing body image among young university students. The articles were selected in February 2020, with the following search descriptors: ("body image") and (young or "college students" or graduating or graduat *) and ("cross-cultural validation" or "cross-cultural adaptation"), in three databases-Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science, without any time restrictions. Altogether, 304 studies were surveyed on the different bases mentioned above, and 14 studies published between 2010 and 2019 were evaluated. This study highlighted the methodological procedures used in the process of cross-cultural adaptation, as well as the population, the types of validity and reliability, and also the main limitations, strengths, and results reported in each study included in this review. The information presented in this review will allow new researchers to make more appropriate choices about instruments for assessing body image in young university students, in addition to presenting the methodological evolution on this theme.

Examining the Role of Craving, Mindfulness, and Psychological Flexibility in a Sample of Individuals with Substance Use Disorder

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) continues to represent a significant public health crisis in the United States. Purpose: Novel and effective treatments are needed, and third wave behavioral approaches focused on increasing mindfulness and psychological flexibility appear promising. However, the unique and shared impact of mindfulness and psychological flexibility on substance craving is not well understood. Methods: The current study explores how mindfulness and psychological flexibility predict substance craving while controlling for severity of substance dependence in a sample (N = 284) of treatment-seeking adults with SUD. Results and Discussion: Results suggest that mindfulness and psychological flexibility each account for unique variance in substance craving over and above the other. Implications and limitations are discussed.

Psychometric properties of the Polish version of the desire thinking questionnaire in a sample of Internet game players

The Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ) is the main instrument used to measure desire thinking, which is the voluntary cognitive elaboration of a desired target on a verbal or imaginal level. Research has shown that this pattern of thinking occurs in different addictive behaviors. This study aimed to adapt the DTQ for use in research on gaming behavior (DTQ-G) and to validate the Polish version of the DTQ-G in a sample of Internet game players. A sample of 635 gamers were examined via the internet. The psychometric analyses of the DTQ-G yielded good results. The questionnaire proved to be a reliable tool for measuring desire thinking related to gaming. Confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the two-factor solution, with both factors (imaginal prefiguration and verbal perseveration) achieving good internal consistency. The Polish version of the DTQ-G has good psychometric properties and can be considered comparable to the original version.

Desire thinking promotes decisions to game: The mediating role between gaming urges and everyday decision-making in recreational gamers

INTRODUCTION

Desire thinking is a voluntary cognitive process that involves the imaginal forecast of a desired activity and the verbal perseveration with plans and good reasons for engaging in it. Considering theoretical models arguing that specific decision-making processes may be involved in the development of gaming disorder, we hypothesized that an initial urge to game might be accelerated by desire thinking, leading to the decision to game in an everyday setting although the gaming behavior may conflict with another activity or certain other goals.

METHODS

A pre-study helped developing a catalogue of situations that provides forced-choice scenarios warranting a decision for or against gaming. To explore the postulated sequence of cognitive and affective events, a serial mediation model with urge to game as predictor, decision to game as dependent variable, and imaginal prefiguration and verbal perseveration as mediators was tested in a sample of 118 recreational gamers with varying degrees of gaming intensity.

RESULTS

The pre-study revealed a catalogue of 18 conflicting situations that likely happen in the daily life of gamers, containing conflicting activities such as job/educational performance and meeting friends/family/acquaintances. In the sequential mediation model, the desire thinking facets imaginal prefiguration and verbal perseveration fully mediated the relation between an initial urge and the decision to game.

CONCLUSIONS

The mediation model emphasizes the serial ordinance of desire thinking facets and their role in motivating decisions to game after an initial urge has been experienced. Results may indicate that desire thinking plays a considerable role in problematic gaming tendencies.

Validity of a Norwegian version of the Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ): Associations with problem drinking, nicotine dependence and problematic social media use

The aim of the current study was to test the validity of the Norwegian version of the Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ). Three cross-sectional surveys were conducted investigating the psychometric properties of the DTQ in alcohol use (N = 588), nicotine use (N = 446) and social media use (N = 359). Principal components and confirmatory factor analyses supported the original two-factor solution consisting of verbal perseveration (VP) and imaginal prefiguration (IP); however, one item was removed to obtain good fit. Internal consistency was acceptable. Both IP and VP showed significant correlations with problem drinking, nicotine dependence and problematic social media use. Regression analyses, controlling for demographics and negative affect, found IP and VP to be significantly associated with all dependent variables. The results confirm that desire thinking is an important construct across different addictive behaviours.

Desire thinking as a predictor of compulsive sexual behaviour in adolescents: Evidence from a cross-cultural validation of the Hebrew version of the Desire Thinking Questionnaire

BACKGROUND

Desire thinking is a voluntary cognitive process that involves the perseverative focus on memories, images and information related to a desired target. The aim of the present study was to validate the Hebrew version of the Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ; Caselli & Spada, 2011) in a sample of adolescents and to investigate its relationship with measures of thought suppression, impulsivity and individual-based compulsive sexual behaviour.

METHODS

In Study 1, a convenience sample of 718 adolescents completed the newly translated Desire Thinking Questionnaire in Hebrew (DTQ-H) and results were subjected to an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). In Study 2, a convenience sample of 379 adolescents completed a battery of questionnaires including the DTQ-H. A Confirmatory Factors Analysis was performed on the DTQ-H and validity was ascertained by correlating with other measures.

RESULTS

In Study 1, a 9-item two-factor structure was identified. A 6-item two-factor structure was confirmed in Study 2. Results also indicated that the DTQ-H has acceptable levels of reliability, and good concurrent and incremental validity in predicting compulsive sexual behaviour.

CONCLUSIONS

The 6-item DTQ-H appears to be a reliable and valid measure of desire thinking and may be used also on adolescents - an understudied population.

Craving Mediates the Relation Between Impulsivity and Alcohol Consumption Among University Students

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The relationship between impulsivity and craving in severe alcohol use disorders is well established, but the presence and characteristics of this link in University students are still to be established. The present study aims to better understand the relationship between impulsivity and craving in university students and to determine the influence of these variables on alcohol consumption characteristics.

METHODS

A large sample of university students (N = 1055, mean age: 20.9 years; 713 women) completed an online questionnaire to evaluate alcohol use, impulsivity, and craving.

RESULTS

Linear regression analysis demonstrated that the compulsive dimensions of craving (P < .001), sensation seeking (P < .001), and lack of premeditation (P < .001) constitute strong predictors of current consumption. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis determined the threshold level above which craving intensity can identify specific high-risk populations. A mediation analysis showed that craving has a partial mediator effect on the impact of impulsivity on alcohol consumption for this population (37,8%, P < .001).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The sensation seeking and lack of premeditation dimensions of impulsivity, coupled with compulsive craving, are efficient predictors of excessive alcohol consumption for university students. The partial mediator effect of craving is important in terms of characterizing the relationship between impulsivity and alcohol consumption.

SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE

Our study centrally shows that the interaction between elevated levels of impulsivity and craving constitute a crucial risk factor for alcohol consumption in university students, and should thus constitute a target for primary prevention programs (Am J Addict 2019;00:00-00).

The effects of food craving and desire thinking on states of motivational challenge and threat and their physiological indices

PURPOSE

Food craving has been shown to induce states of psychological challenge, indexed by increases in adrenaline but not cortisol production. The study aimed to test the relationship between challenge and (1) desire thinking (the active processing of the pleasant consequences of achieving a desired target and planning how to do so) and (2) craving.

METHODS

Participants (N = 61) self-reported their levels of craving and desire thinking. They were then presented with situations in which their craving would be fulfilled or not via a false feedback practice task (a wordsearch task). During this period psycho-physiological measures of challenge and threat were taken.

RESULTS

Higher levels of craving were linked to challenge only when the craved object was likely to be obtained. Whilst anticipating reward fulfillment, higher levels of craving were linked to higher levels of desire thinking. In turn, higher levels of desire thinking were related to lower levels of challenge. In contrast, during the processes of reward fulfillment, desire thinking was linked to increased challenge (i.e., a positive indirect effect).

CONCLUSIONS

Craving is linked to increased levels of psychological challenge when the object of the craving can be obtained, but it is unrelated to craving when it is not. The research also highlights the importance of desire thinking as an important, but complex, mediator in the relationship between craving and motivational states: desire thinking inhibited challenge when anticipating craving fulfillment, but encouraging it during the process of fulfillment itself.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

I: Evidence obtained from at least one properly designed randomized controlled trial.

Metacognitive Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder: A Systematic Case Series

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a debilitating condition with serious adverse effects on health and psycho-social functioning. The most effective psychological treatments for AUD show moderate efficacy and return to dysregulated alcohol use after treatment is still common. The aim of the present study was to evaluate Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) as applied to AUD. Five patients were treated using a non-concurrent multiple baseline design with follow-up at 3- and 6-months time points. Each patient received 12 one-hour sessions of MCT. Following MCT all patients demonstrated large and clinically meaningful reductions in weekly alcohol use and number of binge drinking episodes that were upheld at follow-up in almost all cases. Metacognitive beliefs, as secondary outcome, also changed substantially. The findings from this study offer preliminary evidence of positive effects associated with MCT in AUD and support the need for a definitive trial of MCT in addictive behaviors.