Examination of an experimental manipulation of intolerance of uncertainty on obsessive-compulsive outcomes

Abstract

Intolerance of uncertainty (IU)—the tendency to avoid ambiguous situations and view oneself as unable to cope with uncertainty—is a core cognitive vulnerability for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, no published data address whether IU causes OCD-related phenomena, as experimental research on IU primarily is conducted in the context of generalized anxiety disorder. The studies herein highlight the importance of replication in experimental psychopathology research and may inform future studies that seek to experimentally manipulate cognitive vulnerabilities such as IU or assess compulsions through behavioral measures. In the current studies, undergraduates (Study 1n = 60; Study 2n = 83; Study 3n = 95) completed a false-feedback manipulation intended to either increase or decrease IU beliefs, followed by a catastrophizing worry interview (Study 1) or checking task (Studies 2 and 3). Participants in the high versus low IU condition evidenced significantly more steps during the worry interview and higher state distress, but did not evidence either significant alterations in checking behavior or consistent alterations in perception of threat. Examination of the relationship between IU and OCD can inform the use of treatment strategies that directly target IU. Limitations and key future directions are discussed.