scholarly journals Thoughts as Unexpected Intruders: Context, Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms, and the Sense of Agency Over Thoughts

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 162-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac Fradkin ◽  
Baruch Eitam ◽  
Asher Y. Strauss ◽  
Jonathan D. Huppert
Keyword(s):  
Coming Out ◽  
Intrusive Thoughts ◽  
Sense Of Agency ◽  
Confounding Factors ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽  
General Anxiety ◽  
Low Level ◽  
The Relationship

Obsessions are commonly described as intrusive, ego-dystonic, and coming out of nowhere. This might reflect an experience of a low sense of agency (SoA; i.e., the experience of being the source of one’s own thoughts). In this study, we investigated the relationship between obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms and the SoA over thoughts. Participants were told that subliminal auditory primes (actually sham) can insert thoughts into their minds, and their experiences of inserted thoughts were collected online. The results of three experiments showed reduced SoA over thoughts in individuals with subclinical OC symptoms, regardless of the valence of the thoughts. Several potential confounding factors (e.g., suppression, vigilance, general anxiety) were ruled out. The experience of inserted thoughts was related to experiencing thoughts as “out of context,” which partially explained reduced SoA in participants with high levels of OC symptoms. These experiments highlight the importance of focusing on the low-level, contextual, and phenomenological characteristics of intrusive thoughts in addition to their content and appraisals.

Disentangling Doubt and Checking Behaviors and Examining Their Association With Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms

2021 ◽  
pp. 216770262199386
Author(s):  
Asher Y. Strauss ◽  
Isaac Fradkin ◽  
Jonathan D. Huppert
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Tracking ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Null Results ◽  
Unobtrusive Measure ◽  
Compulsive Checking ◽  
Tone Discrimination ◽  
Neutral Conditions ◽  
The Relationship

Experiencing doubt in an uncertain situation has been theorized to be an antecedent of compulsive checking. However, whether and when obsessive compulsive (OC) symptoms are associated with experiencing doubt and increased checking is unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between OC symptoms, the experience of doubt, and checking in a tone-discrimination task. Doubt was measured using mouse tracking, an indirect, unobtrusive measure. The results of two studies ( N = 119) showed that OC symptoms were associated with elevated experiences of doubt when uncertainty was low. However, OC symptoms were not associated with increased checking, but doubt was. Results highlight the utility of mouse-tracking measures to capture the tendency of individuals with OC symptoms to experience doubt even under neutral conditions. The unexpected null results concerning checking suggest some specific directions for research to determine the conditions under which doubt evolves into checking in obsessive compulsive disorder.

Can a Theory of Mind Disruption Help Explain OCD Related Metacognitive Disturbances?

2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard O'Kearney ◽  
Cherie Nicholson
Keyword(s):  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽  
Metacognitive Development ◽  
Adult Participants ◽  
Degree Of Certainty ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Thought Action Fusion

AbstractThis study investigated whether individual differences in obsessive-compulsive symptoms and in thought–action fusion are related to theory of mind abilities. One hundred and ninety-two adult participants completed self-reports of obsessive–compulsive symptoms (OCI-R), thought–action fusion (TAF), private self-consciousness (PSC) and self-reflectiveness (SR) as mentalising abilities, and anxiety and depression. A nonintrospective method examining participants' implicit structure of their lexicon for ‘knowing’ was used to assess theory of mind. Private self-conciousness and SR added to the prediction of OCD symptoms independently of TAF and depression but did not mediate the relationship between TAF and OCD symptoms. Participants high in thought–action fusion gave a greater emphasis to the certainty dimension of the mental lexicon and placed lesser importance on the source of information dimension than those low in TAF. Our results provide preliminary evidence of a relationship between theory of mind and thought–action fusion. People disposed to thought–action fusion are more likely to make a significance judgment about ‘knowing’ based on the degree of certainty than on reference to the source of knowledge. Identifying disruptions to theory of mind abilities in OCD provides links to solid theory and evidence about metacognitive development and may help integrate cognitive processing and cognitive appraisal models of OCD.

scholarly journals Explaining the Obsessive-compulsive Symptoms Based on Cognitive Flexibility and Social Cognition

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-242
Author(s):  
Shima Pajouhinia ◽  
◽  
Yalda Abavisani ◽  
Zahra Rezazadeh ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Cluster Sampling ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Academic Year

Objective: Cognitive flexibility and social cognition are the appropriate models for understanding psychological problems, through which people can meet various challenges. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cognitive flexibility and social cognition with obsessive-compulsive symptoms among female students at Allameh Tabataba’i University. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 200 students female students at Allameh Tabataba’i University in Tehran studying in the academic year 2018-2019 selected by random multiple cluster sampling method. The used tools were cognitive flexibility inventory, student social cognition questionnaire, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms inventory. Results: There was a negative significant correlation between the total score of obsessive-compulsive symptoms with cognitive flexibility and social cognition. In addition, the results of multiple regression analysis showed that cognitive flexibility and social cognition can explain obsessive-compulsive symptoms in students. Conclusion: Studying cognitive flexibility and social cognition is an efficient method to understand the underlying factors associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Evaluation of these factors can be useful in the prevention and treatment of these symptoms.

scholarly journals The Relationship Between Affective and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Internet Use Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania Moretta ◽  
Giulia Buodo
Keyword(s):  
Internet Use ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Criteria ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Affective Symptoms ◽  
The Relationship

We investigated the relationships and diagnostic power of symptoms associated with affective disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and drug addictions on Internet use disorder. Moreover, we tested whether Internet use disorder is characterized by a specific network of symptoms. One-hundred-and-four young adults (78 women) were assessed in laboratory using self-report measures of Internet addiction, alcohol use disorder, cannabis abuse, depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, impulsiveness, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Only hoarding, obsessing, and depression symptoms were positively linked to Internet use disorder severity, with hoarding having greater power and accuracy than other obsessive-compulsive and affective symptoms. Only individuals with mild-moderate Internet use disorder were characterized by a network of strong and positive associations of affective and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. These findings may encourage future longitudinal studies aimed at identifying potential clinical criteria for the diagnosis of Internet use disorder and treatment targets.

scholarly journals Exploring the Relationship between Obsessive-compulsive Characteristics and Symptoms of Eating Disorders in a Nonclinical Population

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
John Paulson
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
College Sample ◽  
Eating Disorder Symptoms ◽  
The One ◽  
The Relationship

Previous research has documented similarities between symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Anorexia Nervosa, and Bulimia Nervosa and elevated comorbidity between these conditions in clinical samples, with the relationship between OCD and Anorexia being stronger than between OCD and Bulimia. Researchers adopting a continuum view of psychopathology have also found that individuals with sub-clinical expressions of obsessive-compulsive symptoms resemble their clinical counterparts in several ways. The goal of the current study was to explore whether or not the observed relationship between obsessive-compulsive symptoms and eating disorder symptoms observed in clinical populations would also be observed in a nonclinical population. 264 participants from a college sample completed self-report measures of these symptoms. A positive correlation was found between scores on obsessive-compulsive, anorexia and bulimia instruments, and reflective of their clinical counterparts the relationship between obsessive-compulsive and anorexia symptoms was more significant than the one between obsessive compulsive symptoms and bulimia symptoms. Implications and limitations for research and clinical practice are discussed.

scholarly journals The Impact of Conservatism and Elected Party Representation on Mental Health Outcomes During Major Elections

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-248
Author(s):  
Lauryn E. Garner ◽  
Dean Mckay ◽  
Sandra L. Cepeda ◽  
Eric A. Storch
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Presidential Election ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Party Affiliation ◽  
Emotional Experiences ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Political Factors ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Introduction: The American Psychological Association's national surveys have revealed high levels of stress surrounding the political climate since the 2016 United States (U.S.) presidential election. The two current studies aimed to further evaluate the impact of political factors, such as social and economic conservatism and political party affiliation mismatch between individuals and their local or federal officials, on emotional experiences. Methods: Data for these studies were collected through Amazon's Mechanical Turk following the 2016 and 2018 U.S. elections. Results: Results from Study 1 revealed that following the 2016 presidential election, higher social and economic conservatism was associated with less political obsessions and lower levels of depression. Results from Study 2 also demonstrated that following the 2018 midterm elections, higher conservatism predicted lower depression, less political obsessions, lower levels of negative affect, and higher positive affect. Additionally, conservatism moderated the relationship between party affiliation mismatch between participants and their official in the U.S. House of Representatives and both anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The relationship between mismatch of party affiliation for participants’ Senators and obsessive-compulsive symptoms was also moderated by conservatism. Discussion: These studies suggest that political factors, particularly conservatism, may impact emotional experiences and mental health symptoms during times of increased political polarization. Future studies should further explore the impact of political divisiveness on individual's stress levels and emotional well-being.

Attention Training in the Reduction and Reappraisal of Intrusive Thoughts

2007 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Watson ◽  
Christine Purdon
Keyword(s):  
Intrusive Thoughts ◽  
Auditory Attention ◽  
Attention Training ◽  
Intrusive Thought ◽  
Stream Of Consciousness ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽  
Processing Characteristic ◽  
Perceived Success ◽  
To Receive

AbstractAttention Training (ATT) is an auditory attention-focusing technique that attempts to reduce the perseverative self-focused processing characteristic of anxiety and mood disorders. The present study investigated the effects of one session of ATT in the reduction and reappraisal of intrusive thoughts in a university sample reporting high levels of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. One-hundred and eight participants identified their most distressing intrusive thought and spent 7 minutes monitoring their stream of consciousness while recording occurrences of the identified thought. They then rated the unpleasantness of the intrusive thought, their attempts to dismiss the thought from consciousness, and their perceived success in reducing the frequency of the thought. Participants were then randomly assigned to receive one session of ATT, thought replacement instructions (TR), distraction instructions (DI), or no intervention (CONT). Participants then repeated the thought monitoring interval and ratings. ATT was expected to be the most effective in decreasing the frequency and unpleasantness of intrusive thoughts. However, contrary to hypotheses, all groups reported similar decreases across intervals. Implications of these findings are discussed.

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