憂慮的正向預期與憂慮程度之間的關係

The Relation between the Extent of Worry and Positive Prediction toward Worry

憂慮（worry）雖是廣泛性焦慮疾患的主要特徵，但是過去研究對於引發與維持憂慮的因素還沒有足夠的瞭解。Borkovec以及Wells在其對憂慮的理論中都指出，具有病態憂慮的病患對於憂慮的後果持有正向的預期，亦即將憂慮視為有效解決問題的方式，此正向預期是憂慮持續的重要認知因素。但探討正向預期與憂慮程度關係的實徵研究甚少，研究結果也不一致。本研究目的旨在重新檢視個體之正向預期與其憂慮程度是否呈正相關。本研究以憂慮後果量表，測量受試者對憂慮的正向預期，同時施測於一般成人與GAD病患。相關分析的結果顯示，受試者對於憂慮的正向預期與其憂慮程度呈現顯著正相關，一般成人組與病患組之相關係數分別為.372與.488。本研究結果驗證了Borkovec以及Wells的理論，支持正向預期在憂慮歷程中的重要性。在本文最後，也以問題解決歷程討論正向預期在病態憂慮的心理病理中可能的定位，以及病態憂慮發生的心理病理機制假設。

Worry is an intriguing mood state whose nature has just recently come under experimental scrutiny. Worry has been defined as a pathological feature that characterizes Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Borkovec (1994) and Wells (1995, 1998) found that patients with pathological worry have some positive predictions to the outcome of worry. For example, they intend to use worry as a strategy of problem solving. In addition, Borkovec also found GAD patients have more positive predictions than general college students. However, we still don't know much about the importance between positive predictions and worry.
In this study, we try to investigate the relation between positive predictions and the extent of worry. We infer there is a positive correlation between worry and positive prediction. We used the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) and Positive Prediction Scale (PPS) testing on 100 normal subjects and 22 patients with pathological worry. The result shows there is a significant positive correlation between the extent of worry and positive predictions. Therefore, our findings will help to clarify the role and importance of positive predictions in the worry process.