Belief domains of the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire-44 (OBQ-44) and their specific relationship with obsessive–compulsive symptoms

Abstract

The Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire-44 (OBQ-44) was developed by the Obsessive Compulsive Cognitions Working Group to measure beliefs considered important in the development and maintenance of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). In this study an exploratory factor analysis of the questionnaire was conducted with a student population ( n = 238). Results indicated four factors: (1) perfectionism and intolerance of uncertainty, (2) importance and control of thoughts, (3) responsibility, and (4) overestimation of threat. All four factors were positively associated with obsessive–compulsive symptoms and worry. A series of regression analyses was run to test the relative contributions of cognitive and metacognitive factors. In doing so, we controlled for worry and general threat. The metacognitive dimension of importance and control of thoughts emerged as a consistent unique predictor of overall obsessive–compulsive symptoms. Exploratory analyses of predictors of obsessive–compulsive symptom subtypes showed that metacognition and perfectionism contributed to different symptom domains. The data suggests that particular beliefs may be important in OCD.