(PS6-B49) Investigating Emotion Regulation Difficulties as a Transdiagnostic Factor in Misophonia

Background: Misophonia is characterized by strong emotional (e.g., anger, anxiety), behavioral (e.g., efforts to cancel out the sounds), and physiological (e.g., increased heart rate) reactions to auditory stimuli (Ferrer-Torres & Giménez-Llort, 2022), which can cause distress and impairment across several domains such as school, work and family (Cavanna & Seri, 2015). One potential mechanism that may account for impairment is emotion regulation (ER) deficits. ER is the modulation of one’s emotions, the ability to use strategies to engage in goal-directed behavior, and refrain from engaging in impulsive behaviors when experiencing negative emotions (Gratz & Roemer, 2004). Preliminary results suggest that difficulties with ER may be correlated with misophonia severity (Cassiello-Robbins et al., 2020; Guetta et al., 2022), even when controlling for other mental health symptoms (Guetta et al., 2022). The aim of this study is to further investigate emotion dysregulation and clinical impairment within a community sample by comparing individuals with and without misophonia. It is hypothesized that individuals with misophonia would report higher levels of emotion dysregulation and its subscales than healthy controls. Secondly, it is predicted that greater emotion dysregulation would account for between group differences in impairment, after controlling for stress.

Methods: Data collection is ongoing and includes 79 participants (M_age = 28.5; SD = 11.4; 82.3% female; 77.2% White, 11.4% Black or African American) recruited from the community who screened positive for misophonia. A healthy control group matched on demographics will be recruited and data collection is expected to be completed by Fall 2023. Participants completed a self-report battery including the Amsterdam Misophonia Scale (A-Miso-S), Duke Misophonia Questionnaire, Misophonia Questionnaire (MQ), Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS).

Results: As expected misophonia symptoms were elevated in this sample (MQ severity score M = 7.37, SD = 2.09; Clinical cutoff ≥7) and were typically of moderate severity (A-MSIO-S M = 11.73, SD = 3.52). An independent samples t-test will be used to examine between group differences in emotion dysregulation (Hypothesis 1), and Hayes PROCESS macro will be used to conduct mediation analyses (Hypothesis 2).

Conclusions: To date, there is little research on the efficacy of cognitive behavioral interventions for misophonia; however, such interventions are promising for improving outcomes for individuals with misophonia. However, prior to widespread dissemination of interventions for misophonia, it is critical to systematically explore potential underlying mechanisms of the disorder. Currently, research suggests that ER could be a potential underlying mechanism of misophonia symptoms (Cassiello-Robbins et al., 2020; Guetta et al., 2022). This study helps to further understand misophonia symptoms and the impairment caused by misophonia. Findings will inform the potential viability of ER as an underlying psychological mechanism that could be targeted through evidence-based interventions (e.g., Dialectical Behavior Therapy; Neacsiu et al., 2014).