scholarly journals Alexithymia Is a Key Mediator of the Relationship Between Magical Thinking and Empathy

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare M. Eddy ◽  
Peter C. Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Sense Of Agency ◽  
Need For Closure ◽  
Personal Distress ◽  
Magical Thinking ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
Negative Sense ◽  
Emotion Contagion

Thought action fusion (TAF), whereby internal thoughts are perceived to exert equivalent effects to external actions, is a form of magical thinking. Psychiatric disorders associated with TAF (e.g. schizophrenia; obsessive compulsive disorder) can feature atypical social cognition. We explored relationships between TAF and empathy in 273 healthy young adults. TAF was directly correlated with higher personal distress, but not perspective taking, fantasy or empathic concern. TAF moral (the belief that thinking about an action/behaviour is morally equivalent to actually performing that behaviour) was predicted by emotion contagion, alexithymia and need for closure. TAF likelihood (the belief that simply having a thought about an event makes that event more likely to occur) was predicted by personal distress, sense of agency and alexithymia. Both cognitive (TAF and negative sense of agency) and emotional (emotion contagion, alexithymia) factors contributed to personal distress. TAF, negative sense of agency and personal distress mediated the effect of emotion contagion on alexithymia. Our findings reveal complex relationships between emotional processes and TAF, shedding further light on the social cognitive profile of disorders associated with magical thinking. Furthermore, they emphasise the potential importance of alexithymia and emotion contagion as mediators or potential risk factors in the development of psychiatric symptoms linked to TAF, such as intrusive thoughts about harm to others.

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

2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-29 ◽  
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.

Who Am I? A Life Story Intervention for Persons With Intellectual Disability and Psychiatric Problems

2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerben J. Westerhof ◽  
Janny Beernink ◽  
Anneke Sools
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Life Story ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Personal Learning ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Life Review Therapy ◽  
Psychiatric Problems

Abstract This article describes an innovative intervention based on narrative and life review therapy that is tailored to people with intellectual disability (ID) and psychiatric problems. The current study provides a first evaluation of the intervention. A symptom checklist (SCL-90) was used in a pre- and post-follow-up design, and a qualitative evaluation of the intervention was carried out with 25 participants. Results showed large changes in psychiatric symptoms, in particular on depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and interpersonal sensitivity. Participants were mainly positive in their general explicit evaluations of the therapy as well as on personal learning points, intervention-specific, group-related, and therapist-related aspects. It is concluded that the intervention is promising for the treatment of people with ID and psychiatric complaints.

Does Magical Thinking Improve Across Treatment For Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder?

2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 149-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle A. Einstein ◽  
Ross G. Menzies
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Short Version ◽  
Magical Thinking ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Behavioural Treatment ◽  
Poor Prognostic Factor ◽  
Magical Ideation ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽  
Compulsive Disorder

AbstractThe present study investigated whether MI is a mechanism for change in the treatment of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). The Magical Ideation scale (MI), the Obsessive–Compulsive Inventory — Short Version (OCI-SV) and the Padua Inventory were completed by 34 obsessive–compulsive patients pre- and post cognitive–behavioural treatment. Treatment did not target magical styles of thinking. Significant improvements on all three measures of obsessive–compulsive symptoms were demonstrated by t tests over the course of treatment. Improvement in magical thinking was also shown to be significant in t test results. In support of the hypothesis, correlations between MI improvement and improvement on the obsessive–compulsive symptom scales were significant (at a level of .05) suggesting that there is an association between improvement in magical thinking and improvement in obsessive–compulsive symptoms. Notably, a significant negative correlation was obtained between prescores on MI and change scores on the OCD measures. This suggests that high levels of MI are associated with high levels of treatment intractability. High MI appears to be a poor prognostic factor in OCD.

Dysfunctional Forward Model Mechanisms and Aberrant Sense of Agency in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

2012 ◽  
Vol 71 (7) ◽  
pp. 652-659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antje Gentsch ◽  
Simone Schütz-Bosbach ◽  
Tanja Endrass ◽  
Norbert Kathmann
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Forward Model ◽  
Sense Of Agency ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder

scholarly journals Characterizing a psychiatric symptom dimension related to deficits in goal-directed control

eLife ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire M Gillan ◽  
Michal Kosinski ◽  
Robert Whelan ◽  
Elizabeth A Phelps ◽  
Nathaniel D Daw
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Compulsive Behavior ◽  
Neurocognitive Performance ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Diagnostic Categories ◽  
Symptom Dimension ◽  
Compulsive Behaviors

Prominent theories suggest that compulsive behaviors, characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder and addiction, are driven by shared deficits in goal-directed control, which confers vulnerability for developing rigid habits. However, recent studies have shown that deficient goal-directed control accompanies several disorders, including those without an obvious compulsive element. Reasoning that this lack of clinical specificity might reflect broader issues with psychiatric diagnostic categories, we investigated whether a dimensional approach would better delineate the clinical manifestations of goal-directed deficits. Using large-scale online assessment of psychiatric symptoms and neurocognitive performance in two independent general-population samples, we found that deficits in goal-directed control were most strongly associated with a symptom dimension comprising compulsive behavior and intrusive thought. This association was highly specific when compared to other non-compulsive aspects of psychopathology. These data showcase a powerful new methodology and highlight the potential of a dimensional, biologically-grounded approach to psychiatry research.

scholarly journals A Selective Increase in OC Symptoms is Driving Information Seeking and Guideline Adherence During the Covid-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alisa M. Loosen ◽  
Vasilisa Skvortsova ◽  
Tobias U. Hauser
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Pandemic Wave

AbstractBackgroundIncreased mental health problems as a reaction to stressful life events, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, are common. Critically, successful adaptation helps reduce such symptoms to baseline, preventing long-term psychiatric disorders. It is thus important to understand whether and which psychiatric symptoms only show transient elevations, and which persist long-term and become chronically heightened. At particular risk for the latter trajectory are disorders with symptoms directly affected by the pandemic, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder.MethodsIn this longitudinal large-scale study (N=416), we assessed how obsessive-compulsive (OC), anxiety, and depression symptoms changed throughout the course of the first pandemic wave in a sample of the general UK public. We further examined how these symptoms affected pandemic-related information seeking and adherence to governmental guidelines.FindingsAll psychiatric domains were initially elevated, but showed distinct adaptation patterns. Depression scores decreased during the first pandemic wave, however, OC symptoms further increased, even after the end of lockdown. These OC symptoms were directly linked to Covid-related information seeking which gave rise to higher adherence to government guidelines.InterpretationThe rise and persistence of OC symptoms, despite the ease of Covid-19 restrictions, shows that OCD is disproportionally and chronically affected by the pandemic. This is particularly worrying with regards to the long-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on public mental health and indicates that patients with OCD may require particular treatment efforts.

Magical Thinking in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 399-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonnie West ◽  
Paul Willner
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Generalized Anxiety ◽  
Clinical Group ◽  
Magical Thinking ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean

Background: Magical thinking (MT), which has historically been associated with psychotic disorders, has more recently been found to be a central cognitive construct in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) that is associated with a poor prognosis (Einstein and Menzies, 2008). Although MT has been found to distinguish OCD from Panic Disorder (PD) (Einstein and Menzies, 2006), little is known about its role in other anxiety disorders. Aims: This study aimed to compare whether elevated levels of magical thinking could distinguish individuals with OCD from non-anxious controls and individuals with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Method: The Magical Ideation Scale (MIS, Eckblad and Chapman, 1983) was used to compare levels of magical thinking in groups of individuals with OCD (n = 40), GAD (n = 15), and a normal control group (n = 19). Results: As expected, the mean MIS score of the OCD group was significantly higher than that of the non-clinical group. Interestingly, there was no significant difference between the mean MIS scores of the OCD and GAD group. However, the results of correlational analyses suggest that it may have differing roles in these disorders. Conclusions: Although elevated MT is evident in individuals with OCD, it may not be specific to OCD and may also be prominent in GAD. Further research is recommended to elucidate the exact role of this construct in these disorders.

scholarly journals History of psychosurgery at Sainte-Anne Hospital, Paris, France, through translational interactions between psychiatrists and neurosurgeons

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. E9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Zanello ◽  
Johan Pallud ◽  
Nicolas Baup ◽  
Sophie Peeters ◽  
Baris Turak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychiatric Hospital ◽  
18Th Century ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Public Institution ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
History Of

Sainte-Anne Hospital is the largest psychiatric hospital in Paris. Its long and fascinating history began in the 18th century. In 1952, it was at Sainte-Anne Hospital that Jean Delay and Pierre Deniker used the first neuroleptic, chlorpromazine, to cure psychiatric patients, putting an end to the expansion of psychosurgery. The Department of Neuro-psychosurgery was created in 1941. The works of successive heads of the Neurosurgery Department at Sainte-Anne Hospital summarized the history of psychosurgery in France.Pierre Puech defined psychosurgery as the necessary cooperation between neurosurgeons and psychiatrists to treat the conditions causing psychiatric symptoms, from brain tumors to mental health disorders. He reported the results of his series of 369 cases and underlined the necessity for proper follow-up and postoperative re-education, illustrating the relative caution of French neurosurgeons concerning psychosurgery.Marcel David and his assistants tried to follow their patients closely postoperatively; this resulted in numerous publications with significant follow-up and conclusions. As early as 1955, David reported intellectual degradation 2 years after prefrontal leucotomies.Jean Talairach, a psychiatrist who eventually trained as a neurosurgeon, was the first to describe anterior capsulotomy in 1949. He operated in several hospitals outside of Paris, including the Sarthe Psychiatric Hospital and the Public Institution of Mental Health in the Lille region. He developed stereotactic surgery, notably stereo-electroencephalography, for epilepsy surgery but also to treat psychiatric patients using stereotactic lesioning with radiofrequency ablation or radioactive seeds of yttrium-90.The evolution of functional neurosurgery has been marked by the development of deep brain stimulation, in particular for obsessive-compulsive disorder, replacing the former lesional stereotactic procedures.The history of Sainte-Anne Hospital’s Neurosurgery Department sheds light on the initiation—yet fast reconsideration—of psychosurgery in France. This relatively more prudent attitude toward the practice of psychosurgery compared with other countries was probably due to the historically strong collaboration between psychiatrists and neurosurgeons in France.

scholarly journals Brain tumors in patients primarly treated psychiatrically

2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (9) ◽  
pp. 809-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dragana Ignjatovic-Ristic ◽  
Vesna Pusicic ◽  
Sanja Pejovic ◽  
Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic ◽  
Dragan Milovanovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intracranial Pressure ◽  
Brain Tumors ◽  
Clinical Presentation ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Diagnostic Procedures ◽  
Raised Intracranial Pressure ◽  
Treatment Resistant ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
History Of

Introduction. Psychiatric symptoms are not rare manifestations of brain tumors. Brain tumors presented by symptoms of raised intracranial pressure, focal neurological signs, or convulsions are usually first seen by the neurologist or less frequently by the neurosurgeon in routine diagnostic procedures. On the other hand, when psychiatric symptoms are the first manifestation in ?neurologically silent? brain tumors, the patients are sent to the psychiatrist for the treatment of psychiatric symptoms and brain tumors are left misdiagnosed for a long period of time. Case Report. We presented three patients with the diagnosed brain tumor where psychiatrist had been the first specialist to be consulted. In all three cases neurological examination was generally unremarkable with no focal signs or features of raised intracranial pressure. CT scan demonstrated right insular tumor in a female patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); right parietal temporal tumor in a patient with delusions and depression and left frontal tumor in a patient with history of alcohol dependency. Conclusion. Psychiatric symptoms/disorders in patients with brain tumors are not specific enough and can have the same clinical presentation as the genuine psychiatric disorder. Therefore, we emphasize the consideration of neuroimaging in patients with abrupt beginning of psychiatric symptoms, in those with a change in mental status, or when headaches suddenly appear or in cases of treatment resistant psychiatric disorders regardless the lack of neurological symptoms.

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