Intolerance of Uncertainty in OCD

Reliability And Validity ◽

The Other ◽

Self Report ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Reassurance Seeking ◽

Compulsive Disorder

Background: Reassurance seeking is particularly prominent in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and may be important in OCD maintenance. Aims: This study used a new self-report questionnaire to measure the range of manifestations of reassurance-seeking behaviours, describing their sources from which they seek, frequency, process (how they seek), and consequences (as opposed to triggers and motivations). This study also attempts to identify the degree to which reassurance is specific to OCD as opposed to panic disorder. Method: Reassurance Seeking Questionnaire (ReSQ) was administered to 153 individuals with OCD, 50 individuals with panic disorder with/without agoraphobia, and 52 healthy controls. The reliability and validity of the measure was evaluated and found to be satisfactory. Results: Reassurance seeking was found to be more frequent in both anxiety disorders relative to healthy controls. Individuals diagnosed with OCD were found to seek reassurance more intensely and carefully, and were more likely to employ “self-reassurance” than the other two groups. Conclusions: Further investigation of reassurance will enable better understanding of its role in the maintenance of anxiety disorders in general and OCD in particular.

Is Hypochondriasis Related to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, or Both? An Empirical Evaluation

Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy ◽

10.1891/0889-8391.22.2.115 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 115-127 ◽

Cited By ~ 92

Author(s):

Brett Deacon ◽

Jonathan S. Abramowitz

Keyword(s):

Panic Disorder ◽

Cognitive Biases ◽

Function Analysis ◽

Panic Attacks ◽

Self Report ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Body Vigilance

Although hypochondriasis (HC) is considered a somatoform disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text revision), some authors have pointed out that the symptoms of HC overlap with certain anxiety disorders, namely, panic disorder (PD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Few studies have empirically addressed this overlap. In the present investigation, we used discriminant function analysis to explore how patients with a principal diagnosis of HC, OCD, or PD varied with respect to cardinal symptoms of these disorders (i.e., health anxiety, obsessions and compulsions, and panic-related anxiety and avoidance) and key cognitive biases (i.e., intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety sensitivity, and body vigilance). Fifty treatment-seeking individuals with PD, 21 with OCD, and 23 with HC completed self-report measures of symptoms and cognitions during their clinic visit. Results indicated that whereas individuals with HC experience panic attacks, obsessions, and compulsions, these symptoms are markedly less pronounced than among those with PD and OCD. Conversely, overlaps were found in terms of cognitive biases, with HC patients demonstrating elevated levels of intolerance of uncertainty, body vigilance, and fear of cardiovascular symptoms. Implications for the conceptualization and treatment of HC are discussed.

Normal and obsessional jealousy: a study of a population of young adults

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(03)00024-5 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 106-111 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Donatella Marazziti ◽

Elena Di Nasso ◽

Irene Masala ◽

Stefano Baroni ◽

Marianna Abelli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

University Students ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Lower Degree ◽

Self Report ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Intermediate Group ◽

Definition Of

AbstractBackgroundJealousy is a heterogenous emotion ranging from normality to pathology. Several problems still exist in the distinction between normal and pathological jealousy.Aim of the studyWith the present study, we aimed to contribute to the definition of the boundary between obsessional and normal jealousy by means of a specific self-report questionnaire developed by us.MethodsThe questionnaire called “Questionnaire on the Affective Relationships” (QAR) and consisting of 30 items, was administered to 400 university students of both sexes and to 14 outpatients affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) whose main obsession was jealousy. The total scores and single items were analysed and compared.ResultsTwo hundred and forty-five, approximately 61% of the questionnaires, were returned. The statistical analyses showed that patients with OCD had higher total scores than healthy subjects; in addition, it was possible to identify an intermediate group of subjects, corresponding to 10% of the total, who were concerned by jealousy thoughts around the partner, but at a lower degree than patients, and that we called “healthy jealous subjects” because they had no other psychopathological trait. Significant differences were also observed for single items in the three groups.ConclusionsOur study showed that 10% of a population of university students, albeit normal, have jealousy thoughts around the partner, as emerged by the specific questionnaire developed by us. This instrument permitted to clearly distinguish these subjects from patients with OCD and healthy subjects with no jealousy concern.

Reassurance-seeking behaviour, intolerance of uncertainty, and neurocognitive functioning in obsessive-compulsive disorder

10.32920/ryerson.14665695 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Erin Orr

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Psychological Symptoms ◽

Future Research ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Reassurance Seeking ◽

Targeted Interventions ◽

Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychological condition involving excessive reassurance-seeking (ERS), or repeated questioning of others about something perceived as threatening; low cognitive confidence; and intolerance of uncertainty (IU; Cougle et al., 2012; Nedeljkovic et al., 2009; Parrish, 2009). Relationships between these symptoms and several domains of cognitive functioning were examined in the present study. Thirty-five OCD patients and 34 healthy controls completed a battery of psychological questionnaires and neurocognitive measures. Results indicated that OCD patients reported greater levels of ERS than healthy controls in three different situations. Furthermore, significant relationships were identified between: (1) decision-related ERS and decision-making impairment, (2) cognitive confidence and decision-related ERS, and (3) a particular form of IU, inhibitory IU, and decision-making impairment. These findings are important, as these psychological symptoms are associated with negative outcomes. The relationships identified provide an important foundation for future research and the development of targeted interventions for these symptoms.

Reassurance-seeking behaviour, intolerance of uncertainty, and neurocognitive functioning in obsessive-compulsive disorder

10.32920/ryerson.14665695.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Erin Orr

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Psychological Symptoms ◽

Future Research ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Reassurance Seeking ◽

Targeted Interventions ◽

Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychological condition involving excessive reassurance-seeking (ERS), or repeated questioning of others about something perceived as threatening; low cognitive confidence; and intolerance of uncertainty (IU; Cougle et al., 2012; Nedeljkovic et al., 2009; Parrish, 2009). Relationships between these symptoms and several domains of cognitive functioning were examined in the present study. Thirty-five OCD patients and 34 healthy controls completed a battery of psychological questionnaires and neurocognitive measures. Results indicated that OCD patients reported greater levels of ERS than healthy controls in three different situations. Furthermore, significant relationships were identified between: (1) decision-related ERS and decision-making impairment, (2) cognitive confidence and decision-related ERS, and (3) a particular form of IU, inhibitory IU, and decision-making impairment. These findings are important, as these psychological symptoms are associated with negative outcomes. The relationships identified provide an important foundation for future research and the development of targeted interventions for these symptoms.

To achieve a sense of rightness: The joint role of Not Just Right Experiences and Intolerance of Uncertainty in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders ◽

10.1016/j.jocrd.2021.100627 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 29 ◽

pp. 100627

Author(s):

Belén Pascual-Vera ◽

Amparo Belloch ◽

Marta Ghisi ◽

Claudio Sica ◽

Gioia Bottesi

Keyword(s):

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Not Just Right Experiences ◽

Just Right

Initial Data on Recollections of Pathways to Inflated Responsibility Beliefs in Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy ◽

10.1017/s1352465813001112 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 43 (4) ◽

pp. 385-395 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Meredith E. Coles ◽

Casey A. Schofield ◽

Jacob A. Nota

Keyword(s):

Initial Data ◽

Self Report ◽

Published Data ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Childhood Exposure ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Inflated Responsibility ◽

Maladaptive Beliefs

Background: Despite literature establishing a relationship between maladaptive beliefs and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), there are few studies addressing how these beliefs develop. Salkovskis and colleagues (1999) proposed specific domains of childhood experiences leading to heightened beliefs regarding responsibility. Prior studies in students and individuals who just completed treatment for OCD have found support for this theory. However, we are not aware of published data from individuals with current OCD. Aims: This paper presents initial data from adults currently meeting criteria for OCD as well as both anxious and non-anxious controls. Method: Recollections of childhood experiences, current OCD-related beliefs, and OCD symptoms were assessed using self-report measures in 39 individuals seeking treatment for OCD, 36 anxious controls and 39 healthy controls. Results: Initial data suggested that in individuals with OCD, increased reports of childhood exposure to overprotection and experiences where one's actions caused or influenced misfortune were associated with stronger OCD-related beliefs. Further, compared to community controls, individuals with OCD reported more childhood experiences where one's actions caused or influenced misfortune, though they did not differ from anxious controls in childhood responsibility experiences. Conclusions: These initial findings provide minimal support for the proposed model of the development of inflated responsibility beliefs, and highlight the need for research examining the etiology of OCD related beliefs with updated models, larger samples, and ultimately using prospective methods.