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Improved ability to control attention could lead to reduced worry

Research

Training people to focus better when distracted can help them worry less, according to a study published today.

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The report, published today in journal Clinical Psychological Science, reports on results of two studies involving people with a high tendency to worry.

Professor Elaine Fox, from Oxford’s Department of Experimental Psychology said: ‘In the first study, we conditioned high and low worriers to fear an angry face. They were then asked to complete a task that required them to concentrate, with the face appearing as a distraction. We found that high worriers found this much more difficult – that is, they were more easily distracted compared to low worriers.

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