OCD Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

According to cognitive models, obsessive compulsive symptoms result from catastrophic misinterpretations of commonly occurring intrusive experiences and the use of counterproductive strategies to manage them. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder... more

According to cognitive models, obsessive compulsive symptoms result from catastrophic misinterpretations of commonly occurring intrusive experiences and the use of counterproductive strategies to manage them. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) related beliefs such as inflated responsibility, importance of thoughts and perfectionism increases the likelihood of such misinterpretations. Consistent with a growing body of literature supporting the usefulness of mobile delivered technologies in fostering cognitive behavior change, the present study assessed the effectiveness of a novel cognitive training exercise designed to challenge OCD-related beliefs. This mobile app training exercise consists of users having to pull statements challenging OCD beliefs towards themselves (downwards) and to throw away (push upwards) contra-productive self-statements. 36 third-year BA students started the trial. Twenty completed pre and post measures of OCD-beliefs, mood and OCD symptoms including relat...

Obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD) is a disabling and prevalent disorder with a variety of clinical presentations and obsessional themes. Recently, research has begun to investigate relationship-related obsessive–compulsive (OC) symptoms... more

Obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD) is a disabling and prevalent disorder with a variety of clinical presentations and obsessional themes. Recently, research has begun to investigate relationship-related obsessive–compulsive (OC) symptoms including relationship-centered and partner-focused OC symptoms. In this paper, we present relationship obsessive–compulsive disorder(ROCD), delineate its main features, and describe its phenomenology. Drawing on recent cognitive-behavioral models of OCD, social psychology and attachment research, we present a model of the development and maintenance of ROCD. The role of personality factors, societal influences, parenting, and family environments in the etiology and preservation of ROCD symptoms is also evaluated. Finally, the conceptual and empirical links between ROCD symptoms and related constructs are explored and theoretically driven assessment and intervention procedures are suggested.

Guilt plays a significant role in the occurrence and maintenance of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Two major types of guilt have been identified: one deriving from the transgression of a moral rule (deontological guilt DG), another... more

Guilt plays a significant role in the occurrence and maintenance of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Two major types of guilt have been identified: one deriving from the transgression of a moral rule (deontological guilt DG), another (altruistic guilt AG), relying on the assumption of having compromised a personal altruistic goal. Clinical evidence suggests that OCD patients are particularly sensitive to DG, but not AG. In this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we investigated brain response of OCD patients while processing DG and AG stimuli. A previously validated fMRI paradigm was used to selectively evoke DG and AG, and anger and sadness, as control emotions in 13 OCD patients and 19 healthy controls. Patients' behavioral results showed a prominent attitude to experience guilt, compared to controls, while accomplishing task. fMRI results revealed that patients have reduced activation in the anterior cingulate (ACC) and frontal gyrus when experiencing guilt, regardless of its specific type (DG or AG). When separately considering each type of guilt (against each of its control), patients showed decreased activation in the ACC, the insula and the precuneus, for DG. No significant differences were observed between groups when processing AG, anger or sad stimuli. This study provides evidence for an abnormal processing of guilt, and specifically DG, in OCD patients. We suggest that decreased activation may reflect patients' cerebral efficiency, which derives from their frequent exposure to guilty feelings ("neural efficiency hypothesis"). In conclusion, our study confirms a selective abnormal processing of guilt, and specifically DG, in OCD.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a neurobiological condition affecting 1 of every 200 school-age children. OCD greatly affects students’ academic, behavioral, and social functioning, and it can lead to additional problem such as... more

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a neurobiological condition affecting 1 of every 200 school-age children. OCD greatly affects students’ academic, behavioral, and social functioning, and it can lead to additional problem such as depression. To effectively collaborate with other individuals providing appropriate support to students with OCD, teachers need to understand this disorder, particularly its manifestations in school settings. This article addresses typical manifestations of OCD in school settings and provides general and specific accommodations for teachers to implement in their classrooms.

Various subtypes of Pure O OCD, often little known, are discussed at length in this paper.

Symptoms of Harm OCD are described in order to make diagnosis more straightforward. In addition, differential diagnosis between Harm OCD and other conditions is examined. The problem of the prediction of dangerousness is examined and... more

Symptoms of Harm OCD are described in order to make diagnosis more straightforward. In addition, differential diagnosis between Harm OCD and other conditions is examined. The problem of the prediction of dangerousness is examined and there is a discussion of what to do about actionable and non-actionable threats

Background: Obsessive preoccupation, doubts, and compulsive behaviors focusing on one's romantic relationship and partner are receiving increasing clinical, theoretical, and empirical attention. Commonly referred to as relationship... more

Background: Obsessive preoccupation, doubts, and compulsive behaviors focusing on one's romantic relationship and partner are receiving increasing clinical, theoretical, and empirical attention. Commonly referred to as relationship obsessive–compulsive disorder (ROCD), such symptoms have been linked with decreased relational and sexual functioning and lower mood, even after controlling for other obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms. To date, however, these symptoms have been studied in community samples alone. In the present study, we compared levels of interference, OCD, and mood symptoms between clinical participants with ROCD, OCD, and community controls. We also examined group differences in maladaptive beliefs previously linked with OCD and ROCD. Method: Participants included 22 ROCD clients, 22 OCD clients, and 28 community controls. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used to attain clinical diagnoses of OCD and ROCD. The Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale was used to evaluate primary-symptoms severity. All participants completed measures of symptoms and dysfunctional beliefs. results: ROCD clients reported more severe ROCD symptoms than the OCD and control groups. ROCD and OCD clients did not differ in severity of their primary-symptoms. ROCD clients scored higher than the other groups on maladaptive OCD-related and relationship-related beliefs. Finally, ROCD clients showed more severe depression symptoms than community controls. conclusion: ROCD is a disabling presentation of OCD that warrants research attention. Maladaptive OCD-related and relationship-related beliefs may be implicated in the development and maintenance of ROCD.

Both perfectionism and excessive responsibility have been linked to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Up to now however, a greater number of studies have focused on the role of responsibility. The present study compared compulsive-like... more

Both perfectionism and excessive responsibility have been linked to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Up to now however, a greater number of studies have focused on the role of responsibility. The present study compared compulsive-like behavior of people with di€erent styles of perfectionism. Sixteen functional perfectionists (FP) and 16 dysfunctional perfectionists (DP) were compared on three di€erent tasks in order to explore OC type behavior such as doubting, checking and intrusions. Results show that DP participants, compared to FP participants, scored higher on an OC behavior scale, took signi®cantly more time to complete a precision task and precipitated their decision when confronted with ambiguity. The two groups also tended to di€er in their intrusive thoughts following an unsolved problem; FP participants were more preoccupied about solving the problem than about the quality of their performance, contrary to DP subjects. Results are discussed according to theoretical models of OCD.

Objectives: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) begins in childhood and adolescence and progresses along with aging .This survy is conducted to compare temperament and character and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) and... more

Objectives: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) begins in childhood and adolescence and progresses along with aging .This survy is conducted to compare temperament and character and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) and OCPD traits in parents of children with OCD and parents of healthy controls. Materials and Methods: In each group, 30 patients were studied. There were 11 boys (%36.7) in the study group (children with obsessive compulsive disorder), and 12 ones in control group (%40.0). In case group, four mothers (%13.3) had obsessive compulsive personality disorder, while the frequency in control group was one (%3.3) and the frequency difference was not considered statistically significant. There was also a case of borderline personality disorder in mothers of children with obsessive-compulsive disorder, but those in control group were not diagnosed with this disorder which showed thta there was still no significant difference between the two groups. No other personality disorders (including mixed personality disorder or NOS) was detected in two groups. Results:The results indicated that the frequency of preoccupation with details was % 46.7 in the case group (children with obsessive-compulsive disorder), and %10.0 in the control group that means no significant difference between the two groups (0.002). The frequency of perfectionism was %43.3 in the treatment group and %20.0 in the control group which again had no significant difference (0.052). Conclusions: The existence of the some symptomsof OCPD according to SCID in parents of children withOCD in comparison to parents of healthy children confirm the necessity of considering the role of personality factors in familial OCD.The results of this study showed that the four dimensions of temperament based on TCI-125 and triple dimensions of attitudes between mothers in the two groups was not statistically different. INTRODUCTION Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in most cases begins in childhood and adolescence and progresses along with aging (1). The disease ranges from %3 in children of 5-7 years to %6 among matured teens (2). Rate of early primary category relatives of patients affected by the obsessive-compulsive disorder is four times more than the general population in which

Research on individual differences in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has focused largely on analogue models with participants experiencing sub-clinical obsessions and/or compulsions. Few studies have examined the association between... more

Research on individual differences in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has focused largely on analogue models with participants experiencing sub-clinical obsessions and/or compulsions. Few studies have examined the association between normal, dimensional personality traits and obsessive-compulsive symp-tomatology in a clinical sample. The purpose of this study was to examine personality differences in patients with a primary diagnosis of OCD (n 98) or major depression (n 98) using the domains and facets of the five-factor model of personality (FFM). Patients completed the self-report version of the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R). When contrasted with community controls (Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) and NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) professional manual, Psychological Assessment Resources, Odessa, FL, 1992), participants with OCD were found to differ across the domains (and facets) of neuroticism, extraversion, and conscientiousness and the facets of openness and agree-ableness. Further, when compared to depressed participants, those with OCD were found to be more extraverted, agreeable, conscientious and less neurotic. With the exception of the conscientiousness domain (and facets), these significant differences were maintained even after controlling for depression severity. These results highlight the unique associations between trait domains and facets of the FFM and OCD.: S 0 0 0 5-7 9 6 7 (0 2) 0 0 0 2 4-4

Yayoi Kusama is undoubtedly one of the most esteemed artists today, and yet she is continually written off as "crazy." Kusama's work draws not from insanity, but from her experiences with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and acts as a tool... more

Yayoi Kusama is undoubtedly one of the most esteemed artists today, and yet she is continually written off as "crazy." Kusama's work draws not from insanity, but from her experiences with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and acts as a tool to both process and temper her obsessions and compulsions. In my own work, I reflect on the necessarily obsessive faculty of hand-drawn animation, in an effort to communicate the feeling of OCD.

Literary Disability Studies is the first book series dedicated to the exploration of literature and literary topics from a disability studies perspective. Focused on literary content and informed by disability theory, disability research,... more

Literary Disability Studies is the first book series dedicated to the exploration of literature and literary topics from a disability studies perspective. Focused on literary content and informed by disability theory, disability research, disability activism, and disability experience, the Palgrave Macmillan series provides a home for a growing body of advanced scholarship exploring the ways in which the literary imagination intersects with historical and contemporary attitudes toward disability. This cutting edge interdisciplinary work includes both monographs and edited collections (as well as focused research that does not fall within traditional monograph length).

The prevailing conceptual model for Obsessive-Compulsive disorder (OCD) posits that obsessions drive compulsive rituals that serve to control or reduce obsessional distress. In recent years, an alternative hypothesis to explain the... more

The prevailing conceptual model for Obsessive-Compulsive disorder (OCD) posits that obsessions drive compulsive rituals that serve to control or reduce obsessional distress. In recent years, an alternative hypothesis to explain the symptoms of OCD was suggested — the 'habit-driven' hypothesis. According to this hypothesis, compulsions are the result of aberrant dysregulation of stimulus-response habit learning and obsessions are post hoc rationalizations of otherwise unexplained compulsive behaviors. In this article, we describe this hypothesis and briefly review data presented to support it. Next, we raise four questions about this hypothesis to explore how it fits the complex phenotype of OCD: (i) What are the deficits in the goal-directed system in OCD? (ii) How should we define and measure habits in humans? (iii) Are compulsions habits in the technical sense? and (iv) Are obsessions caused by compulsions? We conclude that how an imbalance in goal-directed versus habit behaviors might contribute to the complex phenotype of OCD is yet to be revealed.

Introduction: The obsessive-compulsive inventory revised (OCI-R) is commonly used for the assessment of obsessive-compulsive symptomseverity, yet no severity benchmarks have been developed, limiting utilization in clinical practice,... more

Introduction: The obsessive-compulsive inventory revised (OCI-R) is commonly used for the assessment of obsessive-compulsive symptomseverity, yet no severity benchmarks have been developed, limiting utilization in clinical practice, clinical research, and analogue studies. Additionally, since its development, no large normative work has been published. We developed empirically derived cutoff scores, examined psychometric properties, and report contemporary norms for the OCI-R. Methods: Data from 1339 participants with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) were subjected to confirmatory factor analyses, internal consistency analyses, and ROC (sensitivity/specificity) analyses. We used the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) to determine empirically derived OCI-R severity benchmarks. Results: A six-factor solution, and good to excellent internal consistency across factors were found. OCI-R severity benchmarks were identified with satisfactory sensitivity and specificity, especially for the cutoff between mild and moderate symptoms. Cutoffs at greater levels of severity were less sensitive and specific. Discussion: We provide contemporary clinical norms and severity benchmarks for the OCI-R total score with acceptable sensitivity and specificity, and discuss limitations regarding their use. Total scores should be interpreted with caution given the structure of the OCI-R and the heterogeneous nature of OCD.

Psychoanalytic theories of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) suggest that underlying conflicts about aggression or sexuality drive a variety of obsessive-compulsive behaviors. This study aimed to explore the possible neural correlates... more

Psychoanalytic theories of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) suggest that underlying conflicts about aggression or sexuality drive a variety of obsessive-compulsive behaviors. This study aimed to explore the possible neural correlates of these processes in OCD patients in response to emotion-evoking stimulus material. A total of 15 unmedicated OCD patients primarily with washing symptoms and 15 healthy control participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging analysis while confronted with neutral pictures and emotion-evoking pictures (aggression, disgust, water, sexuality). The choice of the stimuli explicitly took into account the psychoanalytical model of OCD. While viewing aggressive pictures compared to neutral stimuli, OCD patients demonstrated greater activation than controls in the right frontal gyrus, posterior cingulate cortex, insula, claustrum, and in parietal areas of the left hemisphere. In the disgust condition OCD patients demonstrated greater activation than controls in right frontal gyrus, right precentral gyrus, and in left inferior parietal lobule. These results furnish evidence that OCD patients with washing symptoms show a different pattern of processing of aggressive and disgusting stimuli at the brain level. The implicated networks involved suggest that OCD patients have a more self-referential response than in healthy controls. Focusing on the processing of specific negative emotions may help in the enhancement of psychotherapy for OCD.

Intrusive thoughts are typical symptoms of anxiety-related, mood and psychotic disorders. Freeston, Ladouceur, Thibodeau, and Gagnon (1991) developed the Cognitive Intrusions Questionnaire to address the features and processing of... more

Intrusive thoughts are typical symptoms of anxiety-related, mood and psychotic disorders. Freeston, Ladouceur, Thibodeau, and Gagnon (1991) developed the Cognitive Intrusions Questionnaire to address the features and processing of intrusive thoughts regardless of the theoretically related disorder. This study aims to assess the psy-chometric properties of a revised 79-item transdiagnostic version of the Cognitive Intrusions Questionnaire (CIQ-TV). A sample of 350 Spanish undergraduate students (mean age 21.68; 78.5% female) was used to assess its factor structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability and criterion validity. Given the range of characteristics assesses questionnaire, the psychometric properties was studied on groups of ideas based on the components of a general appraisal model (intrusiveness, appraisals, emotions and strategies). The CIQ-TV has a clear factor structure, internal consistency and test-retest reliability, except in the case of generalized anxiety disorder appraisals and thought-focused strategies. Criterion validity was good for obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression appraisals and appropriate for generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety appraisals. In summary, the results of this study showed that the CIQ-TV is a good measure for assessing intrusive thoughts and their associated processes.

The Slender Man made his first appearance in 2009 on the Something Awful Forums website, where participants competed to take ordinary photographs and create eerie images by doctoring the photos. Seen lurking in the background of a... more

The Slender Man made his first appearance in 2009 on the Something Awful Forums website, where participants competed to take ordinary photographs and create eerie images by doctoring the photos. Seen lurking in the background of a playground full of children, the faceless, multi-armed, and freakishly tall figure wearing a dark business suit was the creation of Eric Knudsen (also known as “Victor Surge”). Like Frankenstein’s creature, Knudsen’s monster soon exceeded its creator’s control and took on a life of its own. The character began popping up in online “creepypasta” stories, in online artwork, and in several Web-based video series. What accounts for The Slender Man’s meteoric success as a Web meme? The Slender Man is a liminal figure who flourishes in: (1) the space between chaotic nature and orderly culture; (2) the space between folkloric traditions (The Grim Reaper) and quasi-scientific popular culture (The Men in Black); and (3) the space between relatively stable 20th century technologies (industrialization) and evolving 21st century technologies (digital media). The Slender Man is a boogeyman for the Information Age, one who embodies primal fears (death) and modern horrors (being ground up by impersonal industrialization) as well as postmodern paranoia (“they” are watching us through the technologies we use every day).

Background and objectives: According to cognitive models, obsessive compulsive symptoms result from catastrophic misinterpretations of commonly occurring intrusive experiences and the use of counterproductive strategies to manage them.... more

Background and objectives: According to cognitive models, obsessive compulsive symptoms result from catastrophic misinterpretations of commonly occurring intrusive experiences and the use of counterproductive strategies to manage them. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) related beliefs such as inflated responsibility, importance of thoughts and perfectionism increases the likelihood of such misinterpretations. Consistent with a growing body of literature supporting the usefulness of mobile delivered technologies in fostering cognitive behavior change, the present study assessed the effectiveness of a novel cognitive training exercise designed to challenge OCD-related beliefs. This mobile app training exercise consists of users having to pull statements challenging OCD beliefs towards themselves (downwards) and to throw away (push upwards) contra-productive self-statements. Methods: 36 third-year BA students started the trial. Twenty completed pre and post measures of OCD-beliefs, mood and OCD symptoms including relationship-obsessions. Participants were instructed to complete 3 min of daily training for a period of 15 days. Results: No significant differences were found between completers and non-completers on demographic and most symptom related measures at Time 1. Repeated-measures MANOVA of the 20 completers showed a significant reduction on all OCD symptoms measures and on OCD-beliefs. No significant reduction was found in depression symptoms. Regression analysis showed change in levels of OCD-beliefs was associated with reduction in OCD symptoms at Time 2 over and above OCD symptoms at Time 1. Limitations: The study is an open trial with non-clinical participants. Conclusions: This mobile delivered training exercise may be useful for the reduction and relapse prevention of OCD-related beliefs and symptoms.

Parent-child obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms involve obsessive preoccupation on perceived flaws in one’s child. Such preoccupation is often accompanied by compulsive behaviors aimed at alleviating the resulting distress. Parent-child... more

Parent-child obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms involve obsessive preoccupation on perceived flaws in one’s child. Such preoccupation is often accompanied by compulsive behaviors aimed at alleviating the resulting distress. Parent-child OC symptoms can be construed as an additional presentation of Relationship Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (ROCD), a presentation of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in which symptoms are centered on a significant other. In this study, a self-report scale for assessing parent-child ROCD symptoms (the PROCSI-PC) was created on the bases of an existing partner-focused ROCD scale. Confirmatory Factor Analysis conducted on a sample of 350 parents supported a five factor solution of the PROCSI-PC corresponding to five perceived-flaw domains: appearance, intelligence, competence, morality, and sociability-stability. The PROCSI-PC total score was associated with parental OCD and mood symptoms, and with parental stress. Moreover, the PROCSI-PC was associated with greater depression above and beyond the effect of parental OCD symptoms, and with greater parental stress above and beyond the effects of OCD symptoms and depression. Finally, the PROCSI-PC was linked to self-reported disability resulting from obsessive preoccupation of parents on their child’s perceived flaws. The results indicate the parent-child OC symptoms may be a prevalent source of unique distress that is especially challenging for parents.

Patients with Scrupulosity, a form of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder with moral or religious obsessions and/or compulsions, appear to make moral judgments that are stricter or more stringent than others' moral judgments. This may suggest... more

Patients with Scrupulosity, a form of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder with moral or religious obsessions and/or compulsions, appear to make moral judgments that are stricter or more stringent than others' moral judgments. This may suggest that Scrupulosity is a condition characterized by higher moral standards. This chapter explains why those with Scrupulosity are, instead, making systematically distorted moral judgments. First, it describes Scrupulosity as a distinctive form of OCD that characteristically exhibits three features: perfectionism, moral thought-action fusion, and chronic doubt. These features, which individually are compatible with genuine moral judgments, are the expression of underlying anxiety and thus lead to judgments that are distorted in at least three ways: (1) Anxiety narrows one's attention to a small, self-focused range of factors that will best soothe one's anxiety, at the expense of other factors that may be morally more important. (2) Anxiety leads one to focus on some factors that are not morally relevant. (3) Anxiety makes one's judgments inflexible.

Despite the many number of studies examining workaholism, large-scale studies have been lacking. The present study utilized an open web-based cross-sectional survey assessing symptoms of psychiatric disorders and workaholism among 16,426... more

Despite the many number of studies examining workaholism, large-scale studies have been lacking. The present study utilized an open web-based cross-sectional survey assessing symptoms of psychiatric disorders and workaholism among 16,426 workers (M age = 37.3 years, SD = 11.4, range = 16–75 years). Participants were administered the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, the Obsession-Compulsive Inventory-Revised, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Bergen Work Addiction Scale, along with additional questions examining demographic and work-related variables. Correlations between workaholism and all psychiatric disorder symptoms were positive and significant. Workaholism comprised the dependent variable in a three-step linear multiple hierarchical regression analysis. Basic demographics (age, gender, relationship status, and education) explained 1.2% of the variance in workaholism, whereas work demographics (work status, position, sector, and annual income) explained an additional 5.4% of the variance. Age (inversely) and managerial positions (positively) were of most importance. The psychiatric symptoms (ADHD, OCD, anxiety, and depression) explained 17.0% of the variance. ADHD and anxiety contributed considerably. The prevalence rate of workaholism status was 7.8% of the present sample. In an adjusted logistic regression analysis, all psychiatric symptoms were positively associated with being a workaholic. The independent variables explained between 6.1% and 14.4% in total of the variance in workaholism cases. Although most effect sizes were relatively small, the study's findings expand our understanding of possible psychiatric pre-dictors of workaholism, and particularly shed new insight into the reality of adult ADHD in work life. The study's implications, strengths, and shortcomings are also discussed.

Aim: The Checklist of Individual Strength (CIS20) is a well validated measure of fatigue severity, which has been adapted in several languages. As Portuguese is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world it is important to have... more

Aim: The Checklist of Individual Strength (CIS20) is a well validated measure of fatigue severity, which has been adapted in several languages. As Portuguese is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world it is important to have a Portuguese adaptation of the CIS20. Method: Four hundred and thirty healthy Portuguese adults and 89 patients with chronic fatigue (CF) filled out the Portuguese version of the CIS20 (CIS20-P). The CF patients and a subsample of the healthy adults also filled out the SF-12v2 assessing health-related quality of life. Results: The CIS20 four-factor structure was confirmed (subjective experience of fatigue, concentration, motivation and physical activity scales). In general, internal consistency estimates were satisfactory, with the exception of the motivation scale. Moreover, a higher degree of fatigue severity was significantly associated with lower vitality and physical and psychological health-related quality of life. Conclusion: Our results indi...

Background: Relationship-related obsessive-compulsive phenomena (ROCD) are encountered frequently in the clinic, and involve severe consequences to personal and relational well-being. One common presentation of ROCD involves disabling... more

Background: Relationship-related obsessive-compulsive phenomena (ROCD) are encountered frequently in the clinic, and involve severe consequences to personal and relational well-being. One common presentation of ROCD involves disabling preoccupation and doubts focusing on intimate partner's flaws (partner-focused obsessions). It was previously suggested that individuals perceiving their partner's failures or flaws as reflecting on their own self-worth may be more sensitive to intrusive thoughts pertaining to their partner's qualities and characteristics. In the current studies, we assessed the link between partner-focused OC symptoms and self-esteem contingent on partner-value. Methods: In two studies we assessed the impact of experimentally induced partner-focused intrusions on self-esteem. In Study 1, we assessed individuals' self-esteem after one of three primes: (a) intrusion about one’s partner comparing unfavorably with others of the same sex (i.e., alternative partners), (b) intrusion about one’s partner comparing unfavorably to oneself, (c) and a neutral prime. In study 2, we tried to replicate Study 1 and also examine whether favorable intrusions of one’s partner
would have an opposite effect on self-esteem than unfavorable intrusions. Results: Compared with the other groups, participants who were primed with intrusions of their partner being unfavorably compared to others reported lower self esteem, but only if they had high levels of partner-focused symptoms. Favorable intrusions of partner to others
did not have a positive effect on self-esteem among individuals with high levels of partner-focused symptoms. Conclusions: Partner-value self-sensitivity may be one of the perpetuating mechanisms involved in partner-focused OC phenomena.

Aspects of self-concept have been implicated in recent empirical and theoretical investigations of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). This article extends previous theory and research by investigating the proposal that specific... more

Aspects of self-concept have been implicated in recent empirical and theoretical investigations of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). This article extends previous theory and research by investigating the proposal that specific self-structures may be linked with OCD [eg, Doron, G., & Kyrios, M.(2005). Obsessive–compulsive disorder: a review of possible specific internal representations within a broader cognitive theory. Clinical Psychology Review, 25, 415–432]. In particular, it was hypothesized that individuals who ...

Recent progress toward the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders includes a proposed quantitative hierarchical structure of internalizing pathology with substantial, supportive evidence (D. Watson,... more

Recent progress toward the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders includes a proposed quantitative hierarchical structure of internalizing pathology with substantial, supportive evidence (D. Watson, 2005). Questions about such a taxonomic shift remain, however, particularly regarding how best to account for and use existing diagnostic categories and models of personality structure. In this study, the authors use a large sample of psychiatric patients with internalizing diagnoses (N 1,319) as well as a community sample (N 856) to answer some of these questions. Specifically, the authors investigate how the diagnoses of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and bipolar disorder compare with the other internalizing categories at successive levels of the personality hierarchy. Results suggest unique profiles for bipolar disorder and OCD and highlight the important contribution of a 5-factor model of personality in conceptualizing internal-izing pathology. Implications for personality-psychopathology models and research on personality structure are discussed.

The psychometric properties of a Portuguese version of the Obsessive–Compulsive Inventory—Revised (OCI-R; Foa et al., 2002) were examined in two non-clinical samples (n = 509). The results for the total and each of the subscales of the... more

The psychometric properties of a Portuguese version of the Obsessive–Compulsive Inventory—Revised (OCI-R; Foa et al., 2002) were examined in two non-clinical samples (n = 509). The results for the total and each of the subscales of the Portuguese OCI-R revealed good internal consistency, convergent and divergent validity and test-retest reliability after a one-month interval. Moreover, the original correlated six-factor structure was confirmed in our sample by a confirmatory factor analysis. Our results also showed that the OCI-R exhibited gender invariance. In brief, the Portuguese version of the OCI-R retains the sound psychometric properties of the original version and seems satisfactory for measuring Obsessive–Compulsive Disorders (OCD) symptoms in non-clinical samples.