Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms Are Associated With Heightened Avoidance of Low-Probability, High-Aversion Threats: A Preliminary Test of the Improbable-Catastrophe Hypothesis

Although symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) may vary markedly, they often involve a fear of consequences that are both catastrophic and highly improbable (e.g., contracting HIV from a doorknob). Accordingly, a heightened sensitivity to what we refer to as improbable catastrophes may represent an underlying feature of OCD, yet this possibility awaits experimental validation. To fill this gap, 78 undergraduates with wide-ranging levels of OCD symptom severity completed a fear-conditioning paradigm designed to elicit varying degrees of perceived threat probability/aversiveness to test whether OCD symptoms predict heightened reactivity to unlikely, high-aversion threats. Consistent with predictions, participants with higher OCD symptoms were more avoidant of low-probability, high-aversion threats and also exhibited greater threat expectancy and physiological reactivity to more improbable threats in general. These findings implicate excessive avoidance of improbable catastrophes and heightened reactivity to unlikely threats more generally as underlying features of OCD.

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Cognitive behavioural therapy for obsessive-compulsive symptoms in schizophrenia

The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist ◽

10.1017/s1754470x13000123 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Frederike Schirmbeck ◽

Mathias Zink

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ◽

Symptom Severity ◽

Case Series ◽

Behavioural Therapy ◽

Functional Impairments ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Cognitive Behavioural ◽

First Choice

AbstractObsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) are a common phenomenon in patients with schizophrenia and are associated with additional clinical and functional impairments. So far treatment approaches have been limited to mainly pharmacological interventions with restricted effectiveness. Because cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is considered treatment of first choice for patients with primary obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), it seems compelling to consider it as a treatment option for comorbid OCS in schizophrenia. This research was conducted in order to investigate the theoretical and empirical basis for CBT in the treatment of comorbid OCS/OCD in schizophrenia. A comprehensive review and analysis of published literature was performed. Outcome measures from case-reports and a case-series showed favourable results with a significant reduction of symptom severity in 24/30 patients treated with CBT and exposure and response prevention (ERP) or ERP alone. CBT appears to offer a valuable opportunity to reduce symptom severity in this highly impaired group of patients. Based on these results and with a strong focus on tolerability concerns, suggestions for possible CBT approaches for the comorbid group are proposed. Further research within this field and systematic clinical evaluations are highly desirable.

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Obsessions and compulsions in Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.186.6.525 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 186 (6) ◽

pp. 525-528 ◽

Cited By ~ 145

Author(s):

Ailsa J. Russell ◽

David Mataix-Cols ◽

Martin Anson ◽

Declan G. M. Murphy

Keyword(s):

Symptom Severity ◽

High Functioning Autism ◽

Primary Diagnosis ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽

High Functioning ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Compulsive Symptom ◽

Obsessive Compulsive Symptom ◽

Spectrum Disorders

BackgroundObsessive–compulsive behaviours are common and disabling in autistic-spectrum disorders (ASD) but little is known about how they compare with those experienced by people with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD).AimTo make such a comparison.MethodA group of adults with high-functioning ASD (n=40) were administered the Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale and Symptom Checklist and their symptoms compared with a gender-matched group of adults with a primary diagnosis of OCD (n=45). OCD symptoms were carefully distinguished from stereotypic behaviours and interests usually displayed by those with ASD.ResultsThe two groups had similar frequencies of obsessive–compulsive symptoms, with only somatic obsessions and repeating rituals being more common in the OCD group. The OCD group had higher obsessive–compulsive symptom severity ratings but up to 50% of the ASD group reported at least moderate levels of interference from their symptoms.ConclusionsObsessions and compulsions are both common in adults with high-functioning ASD and are associated with significant levels of distress.

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Is a Ruminative Thinking Style Related to Obsessive-Compulsive Symptom Severity Beyond Its Associations with Depressive and Anxiety Symptom Severity?

International Journal of Cognitive Therapy ◽

10.1007/s41811-021-00112-y ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Carlotta V. Heinzel ◽

Martin Kollárik ◽

Marcel Miché ◽

Annika Clamor ◽

Andrea Ertle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Symptom Severity ◽

Anxiety Symptom ◽

Thinking Style ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Compulsive Symptom ◽

Obsessive Compulsive Symptom ◽

Study Participants

AbstractPrevious studies suggest that a ruminative thinking style (RTS) is positively associated with the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and might be involved in the maintenance of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We sought to replicate this association in a sample of individuals with OCD, controlling for depressive and anxiety symptom severity, and to extend previous studies by including an interview measure of obsessive-compulsive symptom severity. A sample of 140 individuals diagnosed with OCD participated in a cross-sectional observational study. Participants completed questionnaire measures of an RTS as well as obsessive-compulsive, depressive, and anxiety symptom severity. Obsessive-compulsive symptom severity was additionally assessed with an interview. When statistically controlling for depressive and anxiety symptom severity, an RTS continued to predict the questionnaire, but not the interview measure of obsessive-compulsive symptom severity. We discuss possible explanations for these mixed findings, emphasizing the unique aspects of each measure, and consider implications for further research on OCD.

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

Clinical Psychological Science ◽

10.1177/2167702621993868 ◽

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.

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Disgust proneness predicts obsessive-compulsive disorder symptom severity in a clinical sample of youth: Distinctions from negative affect

Journal of Affective Disorders ◽

10.1016/j.jad.2017.02.017 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 213 ◽

pp. 118-125 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Bunmi O. Olatunji ◽

Chad Ebesutani ◽

Jingu Kim ◽

Bradley C. Riemann ◽

David M. Jacobi

Keyword(s):

Negative Affect ◽

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽

Symptom Severity ◽

Clinical Sample ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Symptom ◽

Disorder Symptom ◽

Disgust Proneness

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The treatment of magical ideation in two individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder

The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist ◽

10.1017/s1754470x10000140 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 16-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Danielle A. Einstein ◽

Ross G. Menzies ◽

Tamsen St Clare ◽

Juliette Drobny ◽

Fjola Dogg Helgadottir

Keyword(s):

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽

Video Clip ◽

Magical Thinking ◽

Behaviour Therapy ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Magical Ideation ◽

Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Pre Treatment

AbstractData collected from clinical populations indicate that magical ideation (MI) may play a causal or a mediating role in the expression of obsessive compulsive symptoms. If this is the case then when targeted in treatment, symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) should be altered. Two individuals diagnosed with OCD received a trial treatment targeting magical thinking. The intervention consisted of a series of procedures designed to undermine superstitious/MI without targeting obsessions or compulsions. The procedures involved critical analysis of the following material: (1) a free astrology offer; (2) a horoscope prediction exercise; (3) a description of four different cultural explanations of the origin of fire; (4) an instructive guide for Tarot card readers; (5) a report of a UFO sighting; (6) a video-clip describing a cult festival; (7) a description of a ‘hoax’ channeler and (8) a superstition exercise. Measures of obsessive compulsive symptoms, superstition, MI and thought–action fusion were administered pre-treatment, post-treatment and at 3 months’ follow-up. According to the twofold criterion of Jacobson et al. (Behaviour Therapy 1984, 15, 336–352), following treatment the patients were identified as being recovered on measures of magical and superstitious thinking and on the Padua Inventory.

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Severity of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms is Related to Self-Directedness Character Trait in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

CNS Spectrums ◽

10.1017/s1092852900002789 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 607-612 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Carlos Cruz-Fuentes ◽

Claudia Blas ◽

Laura Gonzalez ◽

Beatriz Camarena ◽

Humberto Nicolini

Keyword(s):

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽

Rating Scales ◽

Character Trait ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Temperament And Character Inventory ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Behavioral Features ◽

Character Inventory

ABSTRACT:Objective:The present study examined the psychobiological Temperament and Character model of personality on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients, as well as the relation of temperament and/or character dimensions on the severity of obsessive-compubive symptoms.Methods:Fifty-four subjects diagnosed with OCD, were assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory, the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive scale and the Hamilton Rating Scales for depression and anxiety.Results:Compared with controls, OCD subjects displayed increased harm avoidance and lower self-directedness and cooperativeness. Low self-directedness and high Hamilton depression scores were associated with increased severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms.Conclusions:The Temperament and Character profile of OCD patients characterized in the present stud personality model and can be linked to some of their behavioral features. Furthermore, our data provides support of the influence that some personality traits may have on the severity of OCD symptoms.

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Examining depression symptoms within OCD: the role of experiential avoidance

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy ◽

10.1017/s1352465821000497 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Morgan E. Browning ◽

Nathaniel P. Van Kirk ◽

Jason W. Krompinger

Keyword(s):

Experiential Avoidance ◽

Symptom Severity ◽

Distress Tolerance ◽

Past Research ◽

Primary Diagnosis ◽

Hierarchical Regression ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

Abstract Background: Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression commonly co-occur. Past research has evaluated underlying mechanisms of depression in the context of other diagnoses, but few to no studies have done this within OCD. Aims: This study examines the relationships between distress tolerance (DT), experiential avoidance (EA), depression, and OCD symptom severity across intensive/residential treatment (IRT) for OCD. It was hypothesized that all variables would be significantly moderately related and EA would emerge as a potential contributing factor to change in depression and OCD symptoms across IRT for OCD. Method: The sample included 311 participants with a primary diagnosis of OCD seeking IRT. Correlations were performed between all variables at both admission and discharge. A two-step hierarchical regression with change in OCD symptoms and change in DT in the first block and change in EA in the second block examined if change in EA explained change in depression above and beyond change in OCD and DT ability. Results: At both admission and discharge, higher EA, lower DT, and higher OCD symptom severity were significantly associated with more depressive symptoms. Change in EA explained a significant amount of variance in change in depression above and beyond change in OCD symptom severity and change in DT. Conclusions: This study expands past results within an OCD sample, emphasizing EA as an important treatment target in OCD. Future studies could utilize samples from other treatment contexts, use a measure of EA specific to OCD, and utilize a longitudinal model that takes temporal precedence into account.

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