Can a Theory of Mind Disruption Help Explain OCD Related Metacognitive Disturbances?

2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard O'Kearney ◽  
Cherie Nicholson
Keyword(s):  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽  
Metacognitive Development ◽  
Adult Participants ◽  
Degree Of Certainty ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Thought Action Fusion

AbstractThis study investigated whether individual differences in obsessive-compulsive symptoms and in thought–action fusion are related to theory of mind abilities. One hundred and ninety-two adult participants completed self-reports of obsessive–compulsive symptoms (OCI-R), thought–action fusion (TAF), private self-consciousness (PSC) and self-reflectiveness (SR) as mentalising abilities, and anxiety and depression. A nonintrospective method examining participants' implicit structure of their lexicon for ‘knowing’ was used to assess theory of mind. Private self-conciousness and SR added to the prediction of OCD symptoms independently of TAF and depression but did not mediate the relationship between TAF and OCD symptoms. Participants high in thought–action fusion gave a greater emphasis to the certainty dimension of the mental lexicon and placed lesser importance on the source of information dimension than those low in TAF. Our results provide preliminary evidence of a relationship between theory of mind and thought–action fusion. People disposed to thought–action fusion are more likely to make a significance judgment about ‘knowing’ based on the degree of certainty than on reference to the source of knowledge. Identifying disruptions to theory of mind abilities in OCD provides links to solid theory and evidence about metacognitive development and may help integrate cognitive processing and cognitive appraisal models of OCD.

scholarly journals Thought-action fusion and inflated responsibility in psychopathology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Kirsty Jane Fraser
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Inflated Responsibility ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Thought Action Fusion

<p>The aim of the current research was to investigate the presence and roles of inflated responsibility and thought-action fusion in psychopathology. The three underlying research themes were to examine the relationship between thought-action fusion and inflated responsibility, the roles that they play in psychopathology, and the possible etiology of these types of beliefs. It is proposed that these responsibility beliefs are not specific to obsessive compulsive disorder, as commonly assumed, and that they play important roles in the maintenance of a range of psychological symptoms. This thesis presents the results of four studies. The first study was designed to investigate the presence of Thought-Action Fusion (TAF) and Inflated Responsibility (IR) alongside symptoms of depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, with thought suppression playing an intermediary role. Study 2 examined the interaction between responsibility beliefs and locus of control on obsessive-compulsive symptoms with non-clinical and clinical participants. The third study focussed on the etiology of responsibility beliefs, taking Salkovskis, Shafran, Rachman, and Freeston’s (1999) theory of Pathways to Inflated Responsibility and empirically testing this with both clinical and non-clinical samples. Study 4 focussed on the relationship between responsibility beliefs and religiosity, using participants of Protestant Christian beliefs and Atheists. These studies collectively show that Thought-Action Fusion and Inflated Responsibility are both important and contributing factors in psychopathology, especially playing a part in the maintenance of symptoms and feelings of distress. Results indicated that while TAF tends to be specific to obsessive compulsive symptoms, IR is more of a general cognitive bias. Results also indicate that critical experiences in one’s life can lead to biases in responsibility beliefs. Additionally, results show that these biases are not always indicative of psychopathology when they are acceptable within a particular set of morals, for example religion. These findings are of both theoretical and clinical significance because they add to the growing understanding of TAF and IR in psychopathology. The current research was conducted with observational, self-report measures; further research using longitudinal studies is needed for more clarity on causality.</p>

scholarly journals Thought-action fusion and inflated responsibility in psychopathology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Kirsty Jane Fraser
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Inflated Responsibility ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Thought Action Fusion

<p>The aim of the current research was to investigate the presence and roles of inflated responsibility and thought-action fusion in psychopathology. The three underlying research themes were to examine the relationship between thought-action fusion and inflated responsibility, the roles that they play in psychopathology, and the possible etiology of these types of beliefs. It is proposed that these responsibility beliefs are not specific to obsessive compulsive disorder, as commonly assumed, and that they play important roles in the maintenance of a range of psychological symptoms. This thesis presents the results of four studies. The first study was designed to investigate the presence of Thought-Action Fusion (TAF) and Inflated Responsibility (IR) alongside symptoms of depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, with thought suppression playing an intermediary role. Study 2 examined the interaction between responsibility beliefs and locus of control on obsessive-compulsive symptoms with non-clinical and clinical participants. The third study focussed on the etiology of responsibility beliefs, taking Salkovskis, Shafran, Rachman, and Freeston’s (1999) theory of Pathways to Inflated Responsibility and empirically testing this with both clinical and non-clinical samples. Study 4 focussed on the relationship between responsibility beliefs and religiosity, using participants of Protestant Christian beliefs and Atheists. These studies collectively show that Thought-Action Fusion and Inflated Responsibility are both important and contributing factors in psychopathology, especially playing a part in the maintenance of symptoms and feelings of distress. Results indicated that while TAF tends to be specific to obsessive compulsive symptoms, IR is more of a general cognitive bias. Results also indicate that critical experiences in one’s life can lead to biases in responsibility beliefs. Additionally, results show that these biases are not always indicative of psychopathology when they are acceptable within a particular set of morals, for example religion. These findings are of both theoretical and clinical significance because they add to the growing understanding of TAF and IR in psychopathology. The current research was conducted with observational, self-report measures; further research using longitudinal studies is needed for more clarity on causality.</p>

Disentangling Doubt and Checking Behaviors and Examining Their Association With Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms

2021 ◽  
pp. 216770262199386
Author(s):  
Asher Y. Strauss ◽  
Isaac Fradkin ◽  
Jonathan D. Huppert
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Tracking ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Null Results ◽  
Unobtrusive Measure ◽  
Compulsive Checking ◽  
Tone Discrimination ◽  
Neutral Conditions ◽  
The Relationship

Experiencing doubt in an uncertain situation has been theorized to be an antecedent of compulsive checking. However, whether and when obsessive compulsive (OC) symptoms are associated with experiencing doubt and increased checking is unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between OC symptoms, the experience of doubt, and checking in a tone-discrimination task. Doubt was measured using mouse tracking, an indirect, unobtrusive measure. The results of two studies ( N = 119) showed that OC symptoms were associated with elevated experiences of doubt when uncertainty was low. However, OC symptoms were not associated with increased checking, but doubt was. Results highlight the utility of mouse-tracking measures to capture the tendency of individuals with OC symptoms to experience doubt even under neutral conditions. The unexpected null results concerning checking suggest some specific directions for research to determine the conditions under which doubt evolves into checking in obsessive compulsive disorder.

Cognitive and behavioral correlates of depressive symptoms in a community sample of adolescents

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-105
Author(s):  
Rachelle Pullmer ◽  
Shannon L Zaitsoff ◽  
Jennifer S Coelho
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Behavioral Model ◽  
Eating Pathology ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽  
Thought Action Fusion

Research in adults demonstrates a positive association among obsessive–compulsive symptoms, eating pathology, cognitive distortions, and comorbid depressive symptoms. Given that adolescence is characterized by unique and rapid changes in biopsychosocial processes, it is imperative to elucidate the relationship between these variables in youth. In this cross-sectional study, we explored whether obsessive–compulsive symptoms, thought–action fusion, thought–shape fusion, and eating pathology would be positively associated with and predict depressive symptoms in a school-based community sample of adolescents ( n = 86; Mage = 15.60). All study variables were positively correlated with depressive symptoms. Results indicated that obsessive–compulsive symptoms, thought–shape fusion, and eating pathology explained a significant proportion of variance in depressive symptoms, whereas thought–action fusion did not. In accordance with the cognitive behavioral model of psychopathology, these findings highlight the relationships between key interrelated correlates of depressive symptoms that may be pertinent targets for prevention and treatment efforts in adolescents.

Thought–Action Fusion in Schizophrenia: A Preliminary Investigation

2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 260-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Berle ◽  
Alex Blaszczynski ◽  
Danielle A. Einstein ◽  
Ross G. Menzies
Keyword(s):  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Chronic Schizophrenia ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Thinking Styles ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Magical Ideation ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽  
Thought Action Fusion ◽  
Larger Sample

AbstractThought–action fusion (TAF), a belief that one's thoughts can either increase the likelihood of a given event or imply the immorality of one's character, is associated with a range of disorders, but has not yet been investigated in relation to psychosis. We sought to determine whether TAF beliefs are endorsed by individuals with chronic schizophrenia. Twenty-seven adults with chronic schizophrenia completed self-report measures of TAF, magical ideation, delusional beliefs and obsessive–compulsive symptoms. Scores were compared with a gendermatched nonclinical group (n = 27) and associations between self-report measures were investigated for the chronic schizophrenia sample. TAF Likelihood–Others, magical ideation and obsessive–compulsive symptoms were endorsed to a greater extent by those with chronic schizophrenia than by controls. The participants with chronic schizophrenia however, did not generally endorse TAF statements at level greater than ‘neutral’. TAF Moral, magical ideation and obsessive– compulsive symptoms were associated with scores on the delusional beliefs measure. We conclude that TAF beliefs may not especially characterise the thinking styles of those with schizophrenia. These findings await replication using a larger sample.

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