Obsessive-compulsive Symptoms Research Articles

Associations between somatomotor-putamen resting state connectivity and obsessive-compulsive symptoms vary as a function of stress during early adolescence: Data from the ABCD study

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) are relatively common during adolescence although most individuals do not meet diagnostic criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Nonetheless, OCS during adolescence are associated with comorbid psychopathologies and behavioral problems. Heightened levels of environmental stress and greater functional connectivity between the somatomotor network and putamen have been previously associated with elevated OCS in OCD patients relative to healthy controls. However, the interaction of these factors within the same sample of individuals has been understudied. This study examined somatomotor-putamen resting state connectivity, stress, and their interaction on OCS in adolescents from 9–12 years of age. Participants (n = 6386) were drawn from the ABCD Study 4.0 release. Multilevel modeling was used to account for nesting in the data and to assess changes in OCS in this age range. Stress moderated the association between somatomotor-putamen connectivity and OCS (β = 0.35, S.E. = 0.13, p = 0.006). Participants who reported more stress than their average and had greater somatomotor-left putamen connectivity reported more OCS, whereas participants who reported less stress than their average and had greater somatomotor-left putamen connectivity reported less OCS. These data suggest that stress differentially affects the direction of association between somatomotor-putamen connectivity and OCS. Individual differences in the experience or perception of stress may contribute to more OCS in adolescents with greater somatomotor-putamen connectivity.

Reduced Subjective Cognitive Concerns With Neurobehavioral Therapy in Functional Seizures and Traumatic Brain Injury.

Functional seizures are common among people with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Subjective cognitive concerns refer to a person's own perception of problems with cognitive functioning in everyday life. The authors investigated the presence and correlates of subjective cognitive concerns and the response to neurobehavioral therapy among adults with TBI and functional seizures (TBI+FS group). In this observational study, participants in the TBI+FS group (N=47) completed a 12-session neurobehavioral therapy protocol for seizures, while participants in the comparison group (TBI without seizures) (N=50) received usual treatment. Subjective cognitive concerns, objective cognition, mental health, and quality of life were assessed before and after treatment. Data collection occurred from 2018 to 2022. Baseline subjective cognitive concerns were reported for 37 (79%) participants in the TBI+FS group and 20 (40%) participants in the comparison group. In a multivariable regression model in the TBI+FS group, baseline global mental health (β=-0.97) and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (β=-1.01) were associated with subjective cognitive concerns at baseline. The TBI+FS group had fewer subjective cognitive concerns after treatment (η2=0.09), whereas the TBI comparison group showed a nonsignificant increase in subjective cognitive concerns. Subjective cognitive concerns are common among people with TBI and functional seizures and may be related to general mental health and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Evidence-based neurobehavioral therapy for functional seizures is a reasonable treatment option to address such concerns in this population, although additional studies in culturally diverse samples are needed. In addition, people with functional seizures would likely benefit from rehabilitation specifically targeted toward cognitive functioning.

Psychometric Properties of the Gastrointestinal Symptom Severity Scale in a Sample of Adolescents and Young Adults.

Background: Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are a set of chronic or recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms (GS) with great psychobiological complexity. The appearance of FGIDs harms quality of life and drains medical resources. Methods: Psychometric properties of the Gastrointestinal Symptom Severity Scale (GSSS) based on Rome IV criteria were examined in a sample of 1247 individuals with typical development. Observations were randomly divided into two subsets, namely, subsample 1 (n = 624) and subsample 2 (n = 623). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed with data from subsample 1, whilst confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed with data from subsample 2. Internal consistency of the scale was assessed for the whole dataset according to ordinal alpha, whilst four-week reliability was measured according to the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Measurement invariance as a function of sex was also examined, and discriminant-convergent validity of the GSSS was examined through hypothesis testing. Results: EFA revealed a two-factor structure with a moderate percentage of explained variance (51.3%), whilst CFA exhibited an excellent fit of the data to the model. A one-factor CFA model demonstrated an acceptable but slightly lower fit. Internal consistency was moderate and test-retest reliability was deemed adequate. Metric invariance was demonstrated as a function of sex. Hypothesis testing demonstrated strong convergent-discriminant validity with measures of sensory sensitivity, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and pain. Conclusions: The GSSS is a tool with acceptable and promising psychometric properties when administered to neurotypical adolescents and young adults. The self-report GSSS may promote better understanding of GS involvement in the gut microbiota-brain axis in the general population.

Too much of a good thing? Hand hygiene and the long-term course of contamination-related obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Increased hygiene behavior may be a factor in the development of contamination-related obsessive-compulsive symptoms (C-OCS). We aimed at investigating (1) the course of C-OCS over 1 year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) the effects of changes in hand hygiene (i.e., duration and frequency of handwashing) and related distress regulation on the long-term course of C-OCS. In a longitudinal study, we assessed 1,220 individuals from the German general population at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (t1), 3 months later (t2), and 12 months later (t3). Pre-pandemic data were available in a subsample from 2014 (n = 430). A decrease in C-OCS over the first year of the pandemic emerged with a small effect size. Thirty-six percent of the participants scored above the clinical cut-off score at t1, 31% at t2, and 27% at t3. In 2014, only 11% scored above the clinical cut-off score. Hierarchical regression showed that C-OCS at t1 was the strongest predictor of a long-term increase in C-OCS. With small effect sizes, change in the duration (not frequency) of handwashing from t1 to t2, as well as the distress-reducing effect of handwashing served as additional predictors. Implications for information on hand hygiene guidelines are discussed.

A Cross-Sectional Study of How Harm Avoidance, Incompleteness and Intolerance of Uncertainty Contribute to Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder in University Students

Research suggests that certain cognitive factors increase the likelihood of developing and maintaining obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Such factors that are often associated with OCD are harm avoidance (HA), incompleteness (INC), and intolerance of uncertainty (IU). The present study aimed to examine the associations of intolerance of uncertainty, incompleteness, and harm avoidance with dimensions of obsessive–compulsive symptoms. Participants were 1128 university students (Mage = 19.42 St.d. = 2.02). Results showed that all subscales of the OCI-R correlated significantly with HA, INC, and IU, confirming the findings of previous studies. HA and INC appear to predict OC symptoms in a significant way. IU appears to correlate and improve the models, although to a lesser degree. The present findings contribute to our better understanding of the relationship between OCD symptoms and underlying cognitive variables and the nature of OCD heterogeneity.

Reduced sleep quality defines a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder with lower Glx levels in the resting thalamus and worse response inhibition

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the differences between resting and active thalamic neurometabolite levels and inhibitory function in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) patients with poor sleep quality (PSQ was defined as Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index >5 and sleep efficiency ≤85%) compared to OCD patients with good sleep quality (GSQ) and healthy controls (HCs), as well as the relationship of these indices to obsessive compulsive symptoms. MethodsFunctional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (fMRS) was used to measure resting and active thalamic neurometabolite levels in 72 subjects (20 HCs and 38 OCD patients included in study analysis). Response inhibition function was measured by the Go-Nogo task before and during MRS recording. Subjective sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The symptoms of OCD, anxiety and depression were evaluated using relevant clinical scales. ResultsOCD patients exhibited significantly reduced Glx/Cr levels in the resting thalamus. The levels of resting thalamic Glu/Cr and Glx/Cr in OCD patients with PSQ were significantly lowest. OCD patients had significantly lower correct rates on Go tasks, higher error rates on Nogo tasks, and longer error average response times (EART) to the Nogo task. OCD patients with PSQ demonstrated the highest Nogo task error rate and the longest EART to Nogo task. Furthermore, PSQI scores exhibited negative correlations with Glu/Cr and Glx/Cr in the resting thalamus. ConclusionOCD patients with PSQ demonstrated reduced levels of thalamic resting Glx and more pronounced response inhibitory function impairment. Aberrant neurometabolite levels in critical brain regions, coupled with heightened response inhibition function deficits, may be a neurobiological basis for the PSQ that OCD patients generally exhibit.

Deficiency in Self-Control: Unraveling Psychological and Behavioral Risk Factors for Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in College Students.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a complex mental disorder to treat. However, there are some deficiencies in research performed to date about the psychological and behavioral factors that may trigger obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS). Based on the Psychopathology of Self-Control Theory which states that deficits in self-control underpin psychiatric symptoms, this study investigated the factors influencing OCS among college students. A total of 5599 non-clinical Chinese college students were recruited to complete the Chinese version of the Self-Control Scale, Aitken Procrastination Inventory, and Symptom Checklist-90. Pearson's correlation analyses and the bootstrap method were performed to test our hypothesis. The following results were obtained: (a) There were significant correlations among self-control, procrastination, anxiety, and OCS. (b) When controlling for the effects of age and sex, self-control remained a significant negative predictor of OCS. (c) The mediating roles of procrastination and anxiety, and the chain mediating role of procrastination and anxiety were the three predicted pathways linking self-control and OCS. This study highlights the significance of self-control deficiencies in OCS. It provides new insights into the psychological and behavioral factors that increase the risk of OCS with important practical implications for early intervention in OCD.

Introduction

It is a privilege to be able to introduce the readers of Integratus to the life and work of my father, Catholic psychiatrist Conrad Baars. A survivor of Buchenwald Concentration Camp, he became disillusioned with the secular Freudian approach to therapeutic intervention. Through the hand of Providence, he was introduced to the work of Dr. Anna Terruwe, which changed the trajectory of his life and career. Terruwe, a Dutch Catholic psychiatrist, had been successful in pioneering the rational psychology of St. Thomas Aquinas as the foundation for her work with clients with obsessive compulsive symptoms. In addition, she identified a syndrome in adults caused by a deprivation of love in childhood. Terruwe realized that these persons needed the remedy of someone's receptive, affective presence, which she called affirmation. She observed that contrary to some of the more active treatments, it was crucial to simply be with rather than do much with these persons.

Disclosure of traumatic details and obsessive-compulsive contamination symptoms in sexual assault survivors.

Contamination concerns are common following sexual victimization and are associated with increased attentional bias and difficulty disengaging from contamination cues. While most survivors of sexual trauma disclose their experience to others, it is unclear whether disclosure increases feelings of contamination or whether, consistent with the fever model of disclosure, existing contamination-related distress increases the amount of content shared during disclosure, indicative of attentional bias toward contamination-inducing aspects of the trauma memory. Accordingly, the current study examined the directionality and relationships between contamination symptoms and content shared during sexual assault disclosure in 106 sexual assault survivors (76.4% women). Forced decision regression with subsequent independence test (RESIT) was used to identify directionality of relationships, and multivariate and linear regressions examined these proposed effects in the presence of assault and demographic characteristics. More severe contamination symptoms predicted greater sharing of details during sexual assault disclosure yet had no impact on sharing of emotions, cognitions, and beliefs during disclosures. Although RESIT suggested that contrary to other content domains, disclosure of social experiences may directionally predict contamination symptoms, this relationship did not retain statistical significance in a linear regression model. Findings support the fever model of disclosure and attentional bias theories regarding contamination-related stimuli, and suggest that survivors experiencing postassault contamination symptoms may be more likely fixate on the contamination-invoking details of the trauma memory when disclosing. Such fixation has the potential to interfere with typical treatment-related processes (e.g., habituation) and should be thoughtfully addressed to maximize treatment gains. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Large nesting expression in deer mice remains stable under conditions of visual deprivation despite heightened limbic involvement: Perspectives on compulsive-like behavior.

Visual stimuli and limbic activation varyingly influence obsessive-compulsive symptom expression and so impact treatment outcomes. Some symptom phenotypes, for example, covert repugnant thoughts, are likely less sensitive to sensory stimuli compared to symptoms with an extrinsic focus, that is, symptoms related to contamination, safety, and "just-right-perceptions." Toward an improved understanding of the neurocognitive underpinnings of obsessive-compulsive psychobiology, work in naturalistic animal model systems is useful. Here, we explored the impact of visual feedback and limbic processes on 24 normal (NNB) and large (LNB) nesting deer mice, respectively (as far as possible, equally distributed between sexes). Briefly, after behavioral classification into either the NNB or LNB cohorts, mice of each cohort were separated into two groups each and assessed for nesting expression under either standard light conditions or conditions of complete visual deprivation (VD). Nesting outcomes were assessed in terms of size and neatness. After nesting assessment completion, mice were euthanized, and samples of frontal-cortical and hippocampal tissues were collected to determine serotonin and noradrenaline concentrations. Our results show that LNB, as opposed to NNB, represents an inflexible and excessive behavioral phenotype that is not dependent on visually guided action-outcome processing, and that it associates with increased frontal-cortical and hippocampal noradrenaline concentrations, irrespective of lighting condition. Collectively, the current results are informing of the neurocognitive underpinnings of nesting behavior. It also provides a valuable foundation for continued investigations into the noradrenergic mechanisms that may influence the development and promulgation of excessive, rigid, and inflexible behaviors.

Exploring the Interplay between Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Severity: Implications for Clinical Practice.

Background and Objectives: Traumatic events adversely affect the clinical course of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Our study explores the correlation between prolonged interpersonal trauma and the severity of symptoms related to OCD and anxiety disorders. Materials and Methods: The study follows a cross-sectional and observational design, employing the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) to examine areas linked to interpersonal trauma, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) to assess anxious and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, respectively. Descriptive analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results: We recruited 107 OCD-diagnosed patients, categorizing them into subgroups based on the presence or absence of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD). The ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences between the two groups in the onset age of OCD (p = 0.083), psychiatric familial history (p = 0.023), HAM-A, and Y-BOCS (p < 0.0001). Logistic regression indicated a statistically significant association between the presence of cPTSD and Y-BOCS scores (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The coexistence of cPTSD in OCD exacerbates obsessive-compulsive symptoms and increases the burden of anxiety. Further advancements in this field are crucial for mitigating the impact of early trauma on the trajectory of OCD and associated anxious symptoms.

Improv Intervention for Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms: A Pilot Study from Turkey

ABSTRACT Improvisation is a form of theater with no predetermined script. All actors create a flow based on two core principles: “Yes, and…” and “No mistakes,” referring to accepting what the partner offers unconditionally, and embracing all contributions to creating content without judgment. This pilot study investigated whether 12 weeks of improv intervention can help alleviate individuals’ obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms. A questionnaire package was given to participants to complete at three different points. The results showed statistically significant decreases in participants’ OCD, depression, and anxiety scores from pretest to posttest measurements. By its very nature, improv intervention may help create an atmosphere full of unpredictability and invite participants to be a part of it. In improv, participants are encouraged to take risks, be in the moment, and trust each other to manage challenges. This paper will also present a discussion of possible mechanisms of change to explain the effects of improv.

Romantic relationship obsessive-compulsive doubts, perfectionism, and DSM-5 personality traits in LGB people: a comparison with heterosexual individuals.

Relationship Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is characterized by the presence of relationship-centered or partner-focused obsessions and compulsions that determine a great sense of doubt toward the partner or the relationship. Personality characteristics, including perfectionism, are involved in the development of Relationship Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and could predispose the individual to excessive doubts and preoccupations regarding the "adequacy of the couple" or the physical appearance of one's partner. Evidence from epidemiological research shows that the LGB community can present a high risk and prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and recent research demonstrated the usefulness of the DSM-5 personality model in understanding the personality of sexual minorities. However, further research is necessary to deepen our knowledge of the relationship between these variables in the LGB community. The aim of the present study was to compare a group of heterosexual individuals to a group of LGB individuals regarding personality traits, perfectionism, and relationship obsessive-compulsive symptoms. A total of 200 participants, 98 in the heterosexual group and 102 in the LGB group, were enrolled in the study and completed a psychological battery comprised of the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised, Personality Inventory for DSM-5, Relationship Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, Partner-Related Obsessive-Compulsive Symptom Inventory, and Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale. The results show that LGB individuals tend to report greater feelings of doubt regarding the partner's love, more negative emotions (Negative Affect) and Antagonism, and greater perfectionism traits compared to heterosexual individuals. These findings underline the necessity to consider the implementation of personalized interventions in clinical practice and the importance of initiating early preventive programs in sexual minority communities.

Cross-disorder comparison of sensory reactivity, pain, gastro-intestinal symptoms and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in adolescents and young adults with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders

There is considerable evidence of the relationship among sensory reactivity, abdominal pain, and gastrointestinal symptoms in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Furthermore, these events are linked to the gut-microbiota-brain axis via the enteric nervous system. However, few studies have compared autism with other neurodevelopmental disorders in terms of sensory reactivity, pain, or gastrointestinal symptoms. Consequently, this study aimed to analyze the differences in sensory reactivity, pain, and gastrointestinal symptoms between adolescents and young adults with ASD and other neurodevelopmental and neurotypical disorders. Differences in sensory reactivity, pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms between a group of individuals with ASD level I (n = 37), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD (n = 15), Learning Difficulties or LD (n = 23), and a control or neurotypical group (n = 76) were analyzed. Higher levels of sensory hyperreactivity were found in individuals with ASD than in the other clinical (ADHD and LD) and neurotypical groups. Sensory hyporeactivity was greater in individuals with ASD as well as in individuals with ADHD than that in the neurotypical group. Higher levels of pain were found in the ADHD group than in the ASD or neurotypical group. Gastrointestinal symptoms of the abdominal type were more severe in the ASD group than in the ADHD, and LD groups, whereas dyspepsia was more severe in the ADHD group. The results indicate a sensory and gastrointestinal profile in individuals with ASD and ADHD. Future studies should increase the number of participants for each neurodevelopmental disorder and perform a more comprehensive analysis of the gut microbiota-brain axis.

Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms: Baseline Prevalence, Comorbidity, and Implications in a Clinically Anxious Pediatric Sample.

Subclinical symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (i.e., obsessive compulsive symptoms, or "OCS") cause functional impairment, including for youth without full-syndrome OCD. Further, despite high rates of OCS in youth with anxiety disorders, knowledge of OCS in the context of specific anxiety disorders is limited. The present study seeks to: (1) compare OCS in pediatric patients with anxiety disorders and healthy youth, (2) determine which categorical anxiety disorder(s) associate most with OCS, and (3) determine relationships between OCS with anxiety severity and impairment. Data on OCS, anxiety, and functional impairment were collected from 153 youth with anxiety disorders and 45 healthy controls, ages 7-17years (M = 11.84, SD = 3.17). Findings indicated that patients had significantly more OCS than healthy controls. Among patients, GAD was a significant predictor of OCS as well as OCD risk. These results suggest that OCS should be a primary diagnostic and treatment consideration for youth who present in clinical settings with GAD.

Exploring the relationship between context and obsessions in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms: a narrative review.

Obsessions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have long been proposed to differ from intrusive thoughts in unaffected individuals based on appraisal of the thoughts. However, more recent research indicates that cognitive processes behind obsessions may differ significantly from those in healthy individuals concerning their contextual relationship. This narrative literature review summarizes current evidence for the role of context-relatedness for obsessions in OCD and intrusive thoughts in affected and unaffected individuals. The review encompasses a total of five studies, two of which include individuals diagnosed with OCD (one study also includes a group of unaffected control individuals), while the other three studies investigate the relationship between OCD symptoms and context in unaffected individuals. As assessed by mainly self-reports, the review examines the connection between thoughts and their context, shedding light on how the repetition and automaticity of thoughts, as well as their detachment from context over time contribute to defining obsessions in contrast to intrusive thoughts. However, the link with context depends on the content of the obsessions. We propose the term "decontextualization of thoughts" to describe the phenomenon that obsessions gradually lose their connection with external context during the development of OCD. Future research should investigate whether this hypothesis can be supported by experimental evidence and identify whether this shift might be more likely a cause or a consequence of the disorder.

Evaluation of Internet Addiction and Relational Variables Among Nursing Students in Turkey During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

It is known that individuals use the internet more to escape from the psychological problems they encounter in daily life during the pandemic. Besides, it is also known that individuals with personality traits such as neuroticism and extraversion might be prone to internet addiction due to poor communication skills. It is important to determine the relationship between the internet usage characteristics and the mental state of nursing students so that students can provide better quality health services in their education and professional processes. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between internet addiction and personality traits, stress, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms among nursing students during the pandemic. This study includes 528 nursing students. The Young's Internet Addiction Test (YIAT), the Vancouver Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (VOCI), the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) were used for data collection between August and October 2021. It was found that there was a statistically significant and positive correlation between the students' YIAT mean scores and the EPI neuroticism sub-dimension, VOCI all sub-dimensions, and PSS mean scores (p < .05). In addition, the mean scores of the PSS and EPI were predictors of the YIAT total score (R = .550, R2 = .233, p < .05). Considering these results, it is necessary to prevent the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychosocial health of individuals. Psychological counseling can be offered to provide protective factors during the pandemic period.

Comorbid Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder in the Pediatric Population — Clinical and Therapeutic Challenges

Comorbidity between obsessive-compulsive disorder and bipolar disorder has been a well-documented phenomenon in the adult population for several decades. However, scant evidence exists regarding this comorbidity in the juvenile population. The objective of this review is to investigate the impact of obsessive-compulsive disorder and bipolar disorder comorbidity on the clinical course and therapeutic approaches for each disorder individually, with a particular focus on children and adolescents. A scientific review was conducted on a careful analysis of the evidence available on the electronic databases: MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library. In children, it has been observed that up to one-third of individuals diagnosed with either obsessive-compulsive disorder or bipolar disorder also experience a lifetime co-occurrence of the other disorder, a notably higher prevalence when compared to adults. The primary diagnosis typically manifests with an earlier onset in this population. When bipolar disorder is present, children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder tend to exhibit an episodic course, more hoarding or saving obsessions and compulsions, and a significantly higher number of comorbidities. In this age group, obsessive-compulsive disorder and bipolar disorder comorbidity is further linked to increased severity symptoms, greater impulsivity, reduced responsiveness to pharmacological treatment, elevated suicide risk, and a diminished likelihood of achieving remission rates for manic and depressive symptoms. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms during childhood and adolescence may indicate vulnerability to have bipolar disorder, suggesting partially shared etiopathogenetic mechanisms between these psychiatric entities. The use of antidepressants poses a risk of inducing a switch to mania or rapid cycling in bipolar patients. Additionally, atypical antipsychotics have been reported to trigger and worsen obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The complexity involved in deciding on a suitable treatment scheme for individuals with this comorbidity may contribute to an unfavorable clinical course. A noteworthy portion of comorbid patients may require a combination of multiple mood stabilizers for effective management.

Psychometric evaluation and factor analysis of the Iranian version of the Fear of Guilt Scale (FOGS) for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Introduction: Fear of guilt is a characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder, which confirms the centrality of guilt in obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Aim: This study aims to investigate the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Iranian adaptation of the Fear of Guilt Scale. Method: This study was applied and developmental in terms of aim and psychometric type,respectively. The population included all the people of the three company in Tehran, Iran, in the year 2022 from which 520 adults, were selected by availabile sampling. The Vancouver Obsessional Compulsive Inventory (2004) and the Fear of Guilt Scale (2016) were used to collect the data. Besides, mean, standard deviation (SD), exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity and construct validity, SPSS version 26 and AMOS version 24 were run to analyze the data. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis revealed the existence of two factors: "punishment" and "prevention of harm." The scale demonstrated favorable convergent validity. Concerning scale reliability, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated at 0.90 for the entire scale, 0.88 for the "punishment" subscale, and 0.75 for the "prevention of harm" subscale which revealed the convergent and construct validity of this questionnaire. Conclusion: This study confirms the psychometric properties of the Fear of Guilt Scale in terms of evaluating the features of fear of guilt in obsessive-compulsive disorder .Future researches can use this tool for the purposes of evaluating and investigating the fear of guilt in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder.

A Longitudinal Examination of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptom Severity as a Predictor of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Development

It is well established in literature that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have high rates of comorbidity. Many studies consider trauma exposure as an etiological factor in the development of Obsessive Compulsive (OC) symptoms, however no research to date has considered the contributions of OC symptoms in the development and maintenance of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) following a traumatic event. Previous literature reports that trauma type and distress tolerance both influence presence and severity of PTSS and OC symptoms. The present study utilizes archival data from 97 trauma-exposed participants selected from a larger randomized controlled trial of four web-based interventions for anxiety and mood symptoms (N = 303). A hierarchical linear regression indicated that baseline OC symptoms predicted long-term follow-up PTSS over and above the variance explained by baseline PTSS, treatment condition, and trauma load. Further, a significant trauma type by OC symptom severity interaction indicated that baseline OC symptom severity had a greater effect on the development or maintenance of PTSS for individuals who experienced interpersonal trauma, as compared to those who experienced non-interpersonal trauma. Additionally, a mediation model demonstrated that month 3 distress tolerance fully mediated the relationship between baseline OC symptoms and long-term follow-up PTSS. The present study was limited by possible treatment effects, outdated methodologies utilized in the original study, and attrition. Despite its limitations the current study provides novel findings and advances our understanding of the relationship between OCD and PTSD symptoms.