Developing image sets for inducing obsessive-compulsive checking symptoms. (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brooks, Helena; Kichuk, Stephen A.; Adams, Thomas G.; Koller, William N.; Eken, H. Nur; Rance, Mariela; Monahan, Shelby; Wasylink, Suzanne; Kelmendi, Benjamin; Pittenger, Christopher; Gruner, Patricia; Hampson, Michelle
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 265(2018)
• Page Start: 249
• Page End: 255
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder [F03-080-600] -- Compulsive Behavior [F01-145-527-100] -- Obsessive Behavior [F01.145.126.950] -- Anxiety [F01.470.132]; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.04.035
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Highlights: Controls, nonclinical checkers, and OCD patients rated images for their provocation. Images with contextual cues suggesting dangerous scenarios were more provocative. Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms induced by images were highly correlated. Patients' ratings of images correlated with control group ratings but were higher. Abstract: Visual stimuli are often used for obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptom provocation in research studies. We tested the induction of anxiety and OC checking symptoms across different types of checking provocation stimuli in three populations: individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), individuals with checking symptoms but without a diagnosis of OCD, and control individuals with neither checking symptoms nor a clinical diagnosis. One set of provocative images depicted objects that are commonly associated with checking anxiety. Another set ('enhanced provocative images') depicted similar objects but also included contextual cues suggesting a specific harmful scenario that could occur. As expected, the enhanced provocative images were more effective at inducing anxiety and OC symptoms than the standard provocative images. Future studies requiring checking symptom provocation should therefore consider incorporating similarly suggestive images. Individuals with clinical OCD reported the greatest provocation in response to these images, followed by those with nonclinical checking, followed by control individuals. Thus, these stimuli are able to provoke OC checking symptoms and anxiety differentially across groups, with the intensity of provocation reflecting diagnostic status. All groups demonstrated a similar qualitative pattern of provocation across images. Finally, in all groups, reported anxiety closely tracked intrusive thoughts and checking urges.