Doubt reduction using distinctive stimuli as a treatment for compulsive checking: An exploratory investigation

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AbstractThree cases are reported in which checking behaviours were eliminated using a doubt reduction procedure. The procedure involves making a successfully accomplished action (e.g. closing a door) more memorable, by associating it with an artificial and distinctive stimulus. Subsequent doubt relating to the successfully accomplished target behaviour is ameliorated by forming a mental image of the distinctive stimulus. A ‘fading’ component improves the likelihood of maintaining treatment gains after artificial stimuli are withdrawn. It is suggested that the technique's efficacy may be attributable to increased ‘confidence in memory’ mediated by image formation.