Beliefs about losing control, obsessions, and caution: An experimental investigation. (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gagné, Jean-Philippe; Radomsky, Adam S.
• Is Part Of: Behaviour research and therapy. Volume 126(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: OCD -- Beliefs -- Losing control -- Obsessions -- Caution -- Experiment; Cognitive therapy -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2020.103574
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0005-7967

Abstract

Abstract: Fear of acting on unwanted impulses (e.g., stabbing a loved one) and avoidance of threatening stimuli (e.g., knives) are common phenomena in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Cognitive models of OCD suggest that maladaptive beliefs underlie the development and maintenance of symptoms. The goal of this experiment was to determine whether beliefs about losing control over one's behaviour lead to experiencing anxiety and intrusive thoughts while approaching stimuli that are commonly feared in OCD, and to behaving more cautiously while interacting with the stimuli. Undergraduate participants ( N = 128) were provided with false feedback about the meaning of their intrusive thoughts: "having intrusive thoughts means that you are likely to lose control over your behaviour" versus "intrusive thoughts are normal". Participants were then asked to approach sharp knives in a stepwise manner (i.e., behavioural approach test; BAT). Afterwards, they sorted the stimuli in a knife block as quickly as possible. Participants with higher (versus lower) beliefs about losing control experienced significantly increasing anxiety throughout the BAT. They also remembered experiencing more intrusive thoughts throughout the protocol and perceived themselves as less cautious while sorting the knives. Interestingly, objective measures of intrusive thoughts and caution were not significantly different between conditions. Highlights: A manipulation of beliefs about losing control over one's behaviour was tested. Higher beliefs about losing control led to increased anxiety around sharp knives. These beliefs led to recalling more of one's intrusions about losing control. These beliefs predicted lower perceived caution while interacting with knives. Beliefs about losing control may be an important treatment target in CBT for OCD.