Convergence of real-time and retrospective assessments: A systematic investigation of naturally occurring and experimentally induced intrusions.
J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry
; 85: 101981, 2024 Jul 15.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39084141
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Ecological momentary assessment is a popular method for monitoring symptoms in real-time. Especially for fleeting experiences, such as intrusions, real-time assessments may be more accurate than retrospective estimates. However, there are concerns regarding reactivity effects associated with real-time assessments and, conversely, the reliance on bias-prone retrospective assessments in clinical science and practice. In this study we used a between-groups design to examine whether real-time intrusion assessments influence retrospective reports (aim 1). Then, we investigated whether real-time and retrospective assessments systematically differed within individuals (aim 2).METHODS:
Over two weeks, 150 non-clinical individuals provided weekly retrospective intrusion assessments, while the majority (n = 102) additionally reported their intrusions in real-time, via smartphones. We examined both naturally occurring intrusions, which individuals experience in their everyday lives, and intrusions related to a standardized stressor (i.e., Trier Social Stress Test), taking place halfway.RESULTS:
Using Bayesian statistics, we found that assessing intrusions in real-time did not convincingly affect retrospective reports, and there was no strong evidence that real-time and retrospective intrusion assessments differed. However, the evidence of absence was inconclusive for some measures. Real-time and retrospectively reported intrusion frequencies and distress were strongly associated with one another.LIMITATIONS:
Future research is advised to replicate these findings with larger samples, for other types of stressors, in clinical populations, and over extended assessment periods.CONCLUSIONS:
The general agreement between real-time and retrospective assessments of intrusions is encouraging, tentatively suggesting that researchers and clinicians can flexibly select the assessment method that best suits their objectives.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article