Abstract
Although current cognitive-behavioral models have highlighted a central role of dysfunctional “obsessive beliefs” about threat,
responsibility, uncertainty, perfectionism, importance and control of thoughts in the development of obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD), empirical evidence in support of this notion has been inconsistent. The present investigation further examines
the association between obsessive beliefs and OCD symptoms among nonclinical (Study 1) and clinical samples (Study 2). Findings
from Study 1 (n = 368) demonstrated that OCD symptom dimensions are associated with some form of obsessive belief (generality). Although
findings from Study 1 revealed that different obsessive beliefs related to different OCD symptom dimensions in a meaningful
way (congruence), findings from Study 2 failed to support the hypothesis that OCD patients (n = 30) would endorse obsessive beliefs more strongly than patients (n = 30) with generalized anxiety disorder (specificity). However, both patient groups endorsed obsessive beliefs more strongly
than non-clinical controls (n = 30). Implications of these findings for conceptualizing the relationship between obsessive beliefs and specific dimensions
of OCD are discussed.
responsibility, uncertainty, perfectionism, importance and control of thoughts in the development of obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD), empirical evidence in support of this notion has been inconsistent. The present investigation further examines
the association between obsessive beliefs and OCD symptoms among nonclinical (Study 1) and clinical samples (Study 2). Findings
from Study 1 (n = 368) demonstrated that OCD symptom dimensions are associated with some form of obsessive belief (generality). Although
findings from Study 1 revealed that different obsessive beliefs related to different OCD symptom dimensions in a meaningful
way (congruence), findings from Study 2 failed to support the hypothesis that OCD patients (n = 30) would endorse obsessive beliefs more strongly than patients (n = 30) with generalized anxiety disorder (specificity). However, both patient groups endorsed obsessive beliefs more strongly
than non-clinical controls (n = 30). Implications of these findings for conceptualizing the relationship between obsessive beliefs and specific dimensions
of OCD are discussed.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s10608-011-9360-4
- Authors
- Megan A. Viar, Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, 301 Wilson Hall, 111 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
- Sarah A. Bilsky, Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, 301 Wilson Hall, 111 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
- Thomas Armstrong, Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, 301 Wilson Hall, 111 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
- Bunmi O. Olatunji, Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, 301 Wilson Hall, 111 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
- Journal Cognitive Therapy and Research
- Online ISSN 1573-2819
- Print ISSN 0147-5916