METACOGNITIONS AND OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE SYMPTOMS IN OCD PATIENTS: MODERATING ROLE OF GUILT SENSITIVITY

Abstract

Present research was designed to understand the connection between metacognitions and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, with guilt sensitivity as moderator in people suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). A positive association among metacognitions, guilt sensitivity and obsessive compulsive (OC) symptoms was hypothesized. Moreover, guilt sensitivity would significantly play the role of moderator in the connection of metacognition and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The research was carried out in two phases. Phase 1 comprised of translation of Guilt Sensitivity Scale (GSS, Perdighe, Cosentino, Faraci, Gragnani, Saliani, & Mancini, 2015) in Urdu by forward-backward translation method. In phase 2, sample of the study consisted of 105 OCD patients. Sample was recruited through purposive sampling technique. Metacognitive Questionnaire (MCQ-30) by Wells and Cartwright-Hatton (2004), GSS by Perdighe et al., 2015 and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms Checklist (OCSC) by Jabeen and Kausar (2010) was used. Findings of the study revealed that there is a significant positive relationship in metacognitions, guilt sensitivity and OC symptoms. Furthermore, results revealed guilt sensitivity moderated with positive beliefs, cognitive self-consciousness, and uncontrollability/dangerousness of metacognitions in OC symptoms. It was concluded that people using more metacognition and with heightened guilt sensitivity were found to have more severity of OC symptoms. Keywords: Guilt sensitivity, Metacognitions, OC symptoms.