scholarly journals Learning the Futility of the Thought Suppression Enterprise in Normal Experience and in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

2009 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sadia Najmi ◽  
Hannah Reese ◽  
Sabine Wilhelm ◽  
Jeanne Fama ◽  
Celeste Beck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Thought Suppression ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Clinical Population ◽  
Obsessive Beliefs ◽  
Behavioral Experiments ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Control Of Thoughts

Background: The belief that we can control our thoughts is not inevitably adaptive, particularly when it fuels mental control activities that have ironic unintended consequences. The conviction that the mind can and should be controlled can prompt people to suppress unwanted thoughts, and so can set the stage for the intrusive return of those very thoughts. An important question is whether or not these beliefs about the control of thoughts can be reduced experimentally. One possibility is that behavioral experiments aimed at revealing the ironic return of suppressed thoughts might create a lesson that could reduce unrealistic beliefs about the control of thoughts. Aims: The present research assessed the influence of the thought suppression demonstration on beliefs about the control of thoughts in a non-clinical sample, and among individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Method: In Study 1, we assessed the effect of the thought suppression demonstration on beliefs about the control of thoughts among low and high obsessive individuals in the non-clinical population (N = 62). In Study 2, we conducted a similar study with individuals with OCD (N = 29). Results: Results suggest that high obsessive individuals in the non-clinical population are able to learn the futility of suppression through the thought suppression demonstration and to alter their faulty beliefs about the control of thoughts; however, for individuals with OCD, the demonstration may be insufficient for altering underlying beliefs. Conclusions: For individuals with OCD, the connection between suppressing a neutral thought in the suppression demonstration and suppressing a personally relevant obsession may need to be stated explicitly in order to affect their obsessive beliefs.

scholarly journals Clinical significance of family accommodation and parental psychological distress in a sample of children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder aged 8-17 years old

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Pontillo ◽  
Francesco Demaria ◽  
Maria Cristina Tata ◽  
Roberto Averna ◽  
Prisca Gargiullo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Clinical Significance ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Clinical Population ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Family Accommodation ◽  
Compulsive Disorder

Abstract Background Family Accommodation (FA) refers to the involvement of family members (especially parents) in the compulsive behaviors of children and adolescents with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (e.g. modifying family routines or facilitating avoidance of obsessive-compulsive triggers). Many studies have examined the high prevalence of FA in this clinical population; however, less is known about its clinical significance and relationship to the individual psychological distress of parents. In our study, we investigated the clinical significance of FA examining its relationship with obsessive-compulsive symptomatology, functioning, anxiety and depressive symptoms in a clinical sample (n = 51) of children and adolescents with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) aged 8–17 years old and their parents, included to examine their individual psychological distress. Methods The sample was divided into two groups: the High Accommodation group (n = 36) and the Low Accommodation group (n = 15). Results Results demonstrated that children and adolescents in the OCD High Accommodation group reported major functional impairment in global (p = .001313), social (p = .000334) and role (p = .000334) domains, and higher depressive symptoms than the Low Accommodation group. Both fathers and mothers from the High Accommodation group reported a higher level of individual psychological distress compared to mothers and fathers from the Low Accommodation group (p = .040365). Conclusions The findings of this study show that FA is common in children and adolescents with OCD and it could cause not only an impairment of the patient’s global, social and role functioning but also a high level of individual psychological distress in the single parent. The presence of FA should therefore be carefully investigated and considered in planning assessment and treatment of OCD in children and adolescents.

scholarly journals Symmetry Dimension in Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: Prevalence, Severity and Clinical Correlates

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 274
Author(s):  
Aline P. Vellozo ◽  
Leonardo F. Fontenelle ◽  
Ricardo C. Torresan ◽  
Roseli G. Shavitt ◽  
Ygor A. Ferrão ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Clinical Correlates ◽  
Axis I

Background: Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a very heterogeneous condition that frequently includes symptoms of the “symmetry dimension” (i.e., obsessions and/or compulsions of symmetry, ordering, repetition, and counting), along with aggressive, sexual/religious, contamination/cleaning, and hoarding dimensions. Methods: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence, severity, and demographic and clinical correlates of the symmetry dimension among 1001 outpatients from the Brazilian Research Consortium on Obsessive–Compulsive Spectrum Disorders. The main assessment instruments used were the Dimensional Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale, the Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale, the USP-Sensory Phenomena Scale, the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories, the Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale, and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders. Chi-square tests, Fisher’s exact tests, Student’s t-tests, and Mann–Whitney tests were used in the bivariate analyses to compare patients with and without symptoms of the symmetry dimension. Odds ratios (ORs) with confidence intervals and Cohen’s D were also calculated as effect size measures. Finally, a logistic regression was performed to control for confounders. Results: The symmetry dimension was highly prevalent (86.8%) in this large clinical sample and, in the logistic regression, it remained associated with earlier onset of obsessive–compulsive symptoms, insidious onset of compulsions, more severe depressive symptoms, and presence of sensory phenomena. Conclusions: A deeper knowledge about specific OCD dimensions is essential for a better understanding and management of this complex and multifaceted disorder.

scholarly journals Directionality of change in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and suicidal ideation over six years in a naturalistic clinical sample✰

2019 ◽  
Vol 245 ◽  
pp. 841-847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lily A. Brown ◽  
Emily Wakschal ◽  
Stefanie Russman-Block ◽  
Christina L. Boisseau ◽  
Maria C. Mancebo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder

scholarly journals The Association of Trait Mindfulness and Self-compassion with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptoms: Results from a Large Survey with Treatment-Seeking Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara Leeuwerik ◽  
Kate Cavanagh ◽  
Clara Strauss
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Distress Tolerance ◽  
Treatment Seeking ◽  
Trait Mindfulness ◽  
Obsessive Beliefs ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Anxiety Depression

Abstract Little is known about the role of mindfulness and self-compassion in obsessive-compulsive disorder. This cross-sectional study examined associations of mindfulness and self-compassion with obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms and with the obsessive beliefs and low distress tolerance thought to maintain them. Samples of treatment-seeking adults (N = 1871) and non-treatment-seeking adults (N = 540) completed mindfulness, self-compassion, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, depression, obsessive beliefs and distress tolerance questionnaires. Participants with clinically significant obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms reported lower trait mindfulness and self-compassion compared to participants with clinically significant anxiety/depression and to non-clinical controls. Among the clinical sample, there were medium-large associations between mindfulness and self-compassion and obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, obsessive beliefs and distress tolerance. Mindfulness and self-compassion were unique predictors of obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, controlling for depression severity. Once effects of obsessive beliefs and distress tolerance were controlled, a small effect remained for mindfulness (facets) on obsessing symptoms and for self-compassion on washing and checking symptoms. Directions for future research and clinical implications are considered in conclusion.

Longitudinal Relations of Obsessive Beliefs, Obsessions, and Compulsions During Treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 846-857
Author(s):  
Martha J. Falkenstein ◽  
Meghan Schreck ◽  
Sriramya Potluri ◽  
Jacob A. Nota ◽  
Kara N. Kelley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Obsessive Beliefs ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder
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