Thought-action fusion and thought suppression in obsessive-compulsive disorder

AbstractContemporary cognitive theories of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) propose that certain types of dysfunctional beliefs and assumptions play a salient role in the genesis and persistence of OCD (e.g., Clark, 2004; Rachman, 1993, 1997; Salkovskis, 1985). The present study aimed to examine whether the three proposed dysfunctional beliefs — inflated sense of responsibility, thought suppression, and thought-action fusion — play a significant role particularly on the persistence of obsessive–compulsive (OC) symptoms, as compared to other emotional disorders, such as symptoms of depression. The participants of the present study were 109 undergraduate university students, who completed a set of questionnaires, including The Responsibility Attitude Scale (RAS), The Thought Action Fusion Scale (TAF), The White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI), The Maudsley Obsessive–Compulsive Inventory (MOCI), and The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). After a 4-week interval, participants were again asked to complete the MOCI and BDI. Two separate hierarchical regression equations were formulated to examine the factors significantly accounting for the residual changes from Time 1 to Time 2 assessments of OC and depressive symptomatologies. Results of these analyses indicated that while thought suppression (WBSI scores) played a significant role on the persistence of both OC and depressive symptoms across time, the role of inflated sense of responsibility (RAS scores) was specific to the persistence of OC symptoms.

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How Does Thought-Action Fusion Relate to Responsibility Attitudes and Thought Suppression to Aggravate the Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms?

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy ◽

10.1017/s1352465810000524 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 99-114 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Müjgan Altın ◽

Tülin Gençöz

Keyword(s):

Undergraduate Students ◽

Thought Suppression ◽

Critical Role ◽

Hierarchical Regression ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Relationship Of ◽

Thought Action Fusion

Background: Comprehensive cognitive theories of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) propose that clinical obsessions and compulsions arise from specific sorts of dysfunctional beliefs and appraisals, such as inflated sense of responsibility, thought-action fusion (TAF), and thought suppression. Aims: The present study aimed to examine the mediator roles of responsibility and thought suppression between TAF and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Specifically, it aimed to explore the relative effects of TAF factors (i.e. morality and likelihood) on inflated sense of responsibility and on thought suppression to increase the obsessive qualities of intrusions. Method: Two hundred and eighty-three Turkish undergraduate students completed a battery of measures on responsibility, thought suppression, TAF, OC symptoms, and depression. Results: A series of hierarchical regression analyses, where depressive symptoms were controlled for, indicated that TAF-morality and TAF-likelihood follow different paths toward OC symptoms. Although TAF-morality associated with inflated sense of responsibility, TAF-likelihood associated with thought suppression efforts, and in turn these factors increased OC symptoms. Conclusions: These findings provide support for the critical role of sense of responsibility and thought suppression between the relationship of TAF and OC symptoms. Findings were discussed in line with the literature.

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The predictive value of interpersonal schemas, perfectionism, and thought action-fusion in obsessive-compulsive disorder / Obsesif-kompulsif bozuklukta kişilerarası şemalar, mükemmeliyetçilik ve düşünce-eylem kaynaşmasının yordayıcı rolü

Dusunen Adam The Journal of Psychiatry and Neurological Sciences ◽

10.5350/dajpn2012250202 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 108-118 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Adem Aydın ◽

Murat Boysan ◽

Şennur Tutarel-Kışlak ◽

Temel Kalafat ◽

Yavuz Selvi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Interpersonal Schemas ◽

Thought Action Fusion

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Dysfunctional Belief Domains Related to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Further Examination of their Dimensionality and Specificity

The Spanish Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1017/s1138741600003930 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 376-388 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Amparo Belloch ◽

Carmen Morillo ◽

Juan V. Luciano ◽

Gemma García-Soriano ◽

Elena Cabedo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽

Factor Model ◽

Dysfunctional Beliefs ◽

Obsessive Beliefs ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

International Consensus ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽

Thought Control ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Thought Action Fusion

International consensus has been achieved on the existence of several dysfunctional beliefs underlying the development and/or maintenance of the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Nevertheless, questions such as the dimensionality of the belief domains and the existence of OCD-specific dysfunctional beliefs still remain inconclusive. The present paper addresses these topics through two different studies. Study 1: A series of confirmatory factor analyses (N= 573 non-clinical subjects) were carried out on the Obsessive Beliefs Spanish Inventory-Revised (OBSI-R), designed to assess dysfunctional beliefs hypothetically related to OCD. An eight-factor model emerged as the best factorial solution: responsibility, over-importance of thoughts, thought-action fusion-likelihood, thought action fusion-morality, importance of thought control, overestimation of threat, intolerance of uncertainty and perfectionism. Study 2: The OBSI-R and other symptom measures were administered to 75 OCD patients, 22 depressed patients, and 25 non-OCD anxious patients. Results indicated that, although OCD patients differed from their non-clinical counterparts on all of the OBSI-R subscales, no evidence of OCD-specificity emerged for any of the belief domains measured, as the OCD subjects did not differ from the other two clinical groups of patients.

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