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Examining Cognitive Models of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Adolescents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 July 2006

Lucy Matthews
Affiliation:
Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Care Trust, Norwich, UK
Shirley Reynolds
Affiliation:
University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
Jo Derisley
Affiliation:
Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Care Trust, Norwich, UK

Abstract

Three influential theoretical models of OCD focus upon the cognitive factors of inflated responsibility (Salkovskis, 1985), thought-action fusion (Rachman, 1993) and meta-cognitive beliefs (Wells and Matthews, 1994). Little is known about the relevance of these models in adolescents or about the nature of any direct or mediating relationships between these variables and OCD symptoms. This was a cross-sectional correlational design with 223 non-clinical adolescents aged 13 to 16 years. All participants completed questionnaires measuring inflated responsibility, thought-action fusion, meta-cognitive beliefs and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Inflated responsibility, thought-action fusion and meta-cognitive beliefs were significantly associated with higher levels of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. These variables accounted for 35% of the variance in obsessive-compulsive symptoms, with inflated responsibility and meta-cognitive beliefs both emerging as significant independent predictors. Inflated responsibility completely mediated the effect of thought-action fusion and partially mediated the effect of meta-cognitive beliefs. Support for the downward extension of cognitive models to understanding OCD in a younger population was shown. Findings suggest that inflated responsibility and meta-cognitive beliefs may be particularly important cognitive concepts in OCD. Methodological limitations must be borne in mind and future research is needed to replicate and extend findings in clinical samples.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2006 British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies

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