The effects of a manipulation of memory confidence on urges to check

One of the most common compulsions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is repeated checking. Although individuals often report that they check to become more certain, checking has been shown to have the opposite effect - increased checking causes increased uncertainty. However, checking may also be thought of as beginning because of memory uncertainty. Beliefs about memory were manipulated to test whether or not they affected urges to check. Ninety one undergraduate participants received (positive or negative) false feedback about their performance on aspects of a standardized memory test, and then completed three additional tasks. Their urges to check and levels of memory vividness and detail following these tasks were assessed. Results were generally consistent with our hypotheses, as individuals in the low memory confidence condition had greater urges to check on most tasks than those in the high memory confidence condition. Low memory confidence led to reduced memory vividness and detail for only one of the memory tasks. Results and implications are discussed in terms of cognitive-behavioural models of and treatments for OCD

Beliefs about Memory in Compulsive Checking and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Assessment and Intervention

Checking is one of the most common compulsions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Some have suggested that individuals who check repeatedly may have memory deficits, but findings of memory-related investigations have been inconsistent. In contrast, beliefs about memory have been shown to relate closely to checking behaviour. Thus, it is possible that mixed findings regarding the presence of memory deficits in association with OCD may be related to maladaptive beliefs influencing performance. Currently no measure exists to assess these beliefs, nor does an intervention to improve them, despite the existence of such measures and interventions for other known maladaptive beliefs central to OCD. The present studies were thus designed to measure and examine the relationships between beliefs about memory, actual memory performance, and checking compulsions. The first study encompassed the development of the Beliefs About Memory Inventory (BAMI) to assess maladaptive beliefs that individuals hold about their memory. Non-clinical (N = 697) and clinical (N = 24) participants completed the candidate items for the BAMI along with other relevant questionnaires to determine its psychometric properties. Results showed that the psychometrically-sound measure is comprised of two factors: beliefs about memory ability, and beliefs about the importance of memory. Furthermore, the BAMI was able to predict checking symptoms over and above existing belief domains known to be relevant to OCD. The second study examined whether a brief cognitive intervention designed to improve beliefs about memory in a sample of compulsive checkers could decrease checking and increase memory performance. Individuals with OCD (N = 24) who exhibited clinical levels of checking symptoms monitored their checking behaviour over the course of a two-session intervention. Half were randomly assigned to the treatment condition, while the other half were randomly assigned to a waitlist control condition. Participants also completed neuropsychological tests pre- and post-treatment/waitlist. Results demonstrated that compared to those in the waitlist condition, individuals in the treatment condition decreased their maladaptive beliefs about memory, checking behaviour, and symptoms, while increasing their memory performance. The results of these studies are discussed in the context of implications for cognitive-behavioural theories of and interventions for OCD

Examining Anxiety Treatment Information Needs: Web-Based Survey Study

BackgroundSeveral treatments for anxiety are available, which can make treatment decisions difficult. Resources are often produced with limited knowledge of what information is of interest to consumers. This is a problem because there is limited understanding of what people want to know when considering help for anxiety. ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the information needs and preferences concerning treatment options for anxiety by assessing the following: what information people consider to be important when they are considering treatment options for anxiety, what information people have received on psychological and medication treatment in the past, how they received this information in the past, and whether there are any differences in information needs between specific samples and demographic groups. MethodsUsing a web-based survey, we recruited participants from a peer-support association website (n=288) and clinic samples (psychology, n=113; psychiatry, n=64). ResultsParticipants in all samples wanted information on a broad range of topics pertaining to anxiety treatment. However, they reported that they did not receive the desired amount of information. Participants in the clinic samples rated the importance of information topics higher than did those in the self-help sample. When considering the anxiety treatment information received in the past, most respondents indicated receiving information from informational websites, family doctors, and mental health practitioners. In terms of what respondents want to learn about, high ratings of importance were given to topics concerning treatment effectiveness, how it works, advantages and disadvantages, what happens when it stops, and common side effects. ConclusionsIt is challenging for individuals to obtain anxiety-related information on the range of topics they desire through currently available information sources. It is also difficult to provide comprehensive information during typical clinical visits. Providing evidence-based information on the web and in a brochure format may help consumers make informed choices and support the advice provided by health professionals

Part 2. They scare because we care: the relationship between obsessive intrusive thoughts and appraisals and control strategies across 15 cities

International audienc

Part 3: A question of perspective: The association between intrusive thoughts and obsessionality in 11 countries

A key assumption of contemporary cognitive-behavioral models of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is that obsessional thoughts exist on a continuum with 'normal' unwanted intrusive thoughts. Recently, however, some authors have challenged this notion. The present study aimed to clarify (a) the extent that different types of intrusive thoughts in nonclinical individuals are associated with obsessionality, (b) the relative contribution of frequency, distress and control ratings to obsessionality, and (c) the extent that existing findings (primarily from North American or European samples) generalize to other countries in the world. Five hundred and fifty-four non-clinical individuals from 11 different countries were administered an interview assessing the presence, frequency, distress, and perceived control of different types of intrusive thoughts. Participants also completed measures of obsessional beliefs, obsessive- compulsive (OC) symptoms, and depression. Results from data analyses supported the universality of unwanted intrusive thoughts, the continuity of normal and abnormal obsessions, and the specificity of dirt/contamination, doubt and miscellaneous intrusions to OC symptoms. Implications for intrusive thoughts as a potential vulnerability factor for OCD are discussed