The primary objective of this study is to increase knowledge about the inter-relationship between parenting and obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents. More specifically, this study sets out to understand the impact or influence of fathers on children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder. This study further examines the changing roles of fathers and the impact these have on their children with obsessive-compulsive disorder. In an attempt to gain new insights into the father-child relationship, I have placed an emphasis on both risk and protective factors. That is, the study examines the lived experience of these fathers encompassing their interpretation of their children's obsessions and compulsions as well as their response to same, which has further consequences for themselves and their children. I was also the intent of this study to move away from "blaming" the parent or the child and instead, to examine the transactional nature of the emergence and maintenance of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Thesis (M.A.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Dept. of Psychology, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis, PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--York University, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 188-213). Also available for purchase on the Internet.

Thesis (D.C.P. / M. Sc.)--School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, 2007. / Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology/Master of Science to the School of Psychology. Title from title screen (viewed 15 January 2009). Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print form.

The purpose of this investigation was to test the hypothesis that perceived responsibility is a major determinant of compulsive checking. Thirty participants recruited from the community through the local media, who met criteria for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, received four conditions. In the low responsibility condition, perceived responsibility for an anticipated negative eventt was transferred to the experimenter. In contrast, in the high responsibility condition, perceived responsibility for an anticipated negative event was given to the participant. The remaining two conditions served as control conditions. Subjects were assessed before and after each experimental manipulation. Results suggest a causal connection between decreases in perceived responsibility and compulsive checking. Decreases in perceived responsibility produced decreases in several measures critical to compulsive checking. Results from increases in perceived responsibility were less clear. However, increases in perceived responsibility lead to increases in panic and likelihood of anticipated criticism. There were trends for increases in perceived responsibility to lead to increases in perceptions of discomfort experienced, urge to check, and severity of anticipated criticism. There was no relationship between variations in perceived responsibility and perceived extent of controllability over an anticipated negative event. Theoretical implications of the results and, in particular, the value of a cognitive analysis of compulsive checking, are discussed. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate a specific cognitive theory of obsessions; namely, that unwanted and repugnant intrusive thoughts cause distress and persist when the person interprets their occurrence as highly personally significant and important. Two studies were conducted. In the first study, we described the development and undertook a validation study of a new scale of obsessional-compulsive symptoms, the Vancouver Obsessional Compulsive Inventory (VOCI). This measure was a necessary first step because established measures of obsessional-compulsive symptoms are inadequate in their assessment of a number of domains of obsessional-compulsive complaints, particularly obsessions. Our findings in samples of people with obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD), people with other anxiety disorders or depression, community adults, and undergraduate students suggest that the VOCI is a promising new measure. In the second study, we investigated the role of interpretations of the personal significance and importance of intrusive thoughts in the occurrence of obsessions. Specifically, we hypothesized that people who have repugnant obsessions or frequent, distressing intrusive thoughts would interpret their intrusive thoughts as highly personally significant and important. Our hypotheses were, in general, supported. There was a clear relationship between beliefs and interpretations of the importance of thoughts and obsessions in both OCD and nonclinical samples. In addition, these beliefs and appraisals appeared to be specifically related to repugnant obsessions, rather than obsessive-compulsive complaints in general. This research represents one of the first attempts to evaluate the assertion that misinterpretations of intrusive thoughts are fundamental in the experience of obsessions. The development of the VOCI was a necessary first step in evaluating the relationship between interpretations of personal significance and particular obsessional-compulsive complaints. By demonstrating specific interpretations that are associated with clinical obsessions, we hope to refine cognitive-behavioural models of obsessions, and suggest ways in which current cognitive-behaviour therapy for obsessions can be sharpened and made more effective. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

Discussion: This study aims at expanding the understanding of mental contamination. First, the dirty kiss experiment is independently replicated in a Chinese population. Second, contact contamination and mental contamination are found to be separable and do not interact with each other. This underscores the independence of the two forms of contamination. Third, betrayal is shown to evoke mental contamination. Discussion has been made on the potential link between psychological violation, morality and mental contamination. / Mental contamination, an important phenomenon in OCD, refers to a sense of dirtiness without any contact with objectively dirty contaminant. However, the concept of mental contamination has not been thoroughly researched and there is an impending need for a psychological model to explain the phenomenon. / Method: Participants were assessed on questionnaires after imagining a non-consensual kiss or betrayal. / Objectives: The overall goal of this study is to enhance our understanding about mental contamination. Based on an experimental paradigm developed by Fairbrother, Newth, and Rachman (2005), three experiments are designed. The first experiment aims at replicating the results of the original study in local Chinese women. The second experiment examines the relationship between contact and mental contamination. The third experiment investigates the presence of mental contamination in persons experiencing betrayal. / Results: In Experiment 1, with an imagined non-consensual kiss, feeling of dirtiness, urge to wash and negative emotions were reproduced. In Experiment 2, it illustrated that either kissing a physically dirty looking man or being kissed non-consensually would experience stronger feeling of dirtiness, urge to wash and negative emotions. The last experiment showed that an imagined betrayal, a form of psychological violation, also induced a feeling of dirtiness, washing urge and negative emotions as with an imagined non-consensual kiss. / Three different pools of adult female participants were recruited for each experiment. In Experiment 1, 72 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to either a consensual kiss or a non-consensual kiss condition. In Experiment 2, 122 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to one of the four conditions. In Experiment 3, a total of 64 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to either non-betrayal or betrayal condition. / Kwok, Pui Ling Amy. / Adviser: Patrick Leung. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-01, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 166-177). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract and appendixes 1-3, 5-8 also in Chinese.

The cognitive model of obsessions (Rachman, 1997, 1998) proposes the escalation from normal intrusive thought into clinical obsession begins with the appraisal of thoughts as being significant or dangerous. The cognitive theory of obsessions also posits through targeting and dismantling maladaptive thought related beliefs and thought control strategies, one can reduce the frequency of and discomfort associated with obsessive thoughts. The current study first set out to obtain additional empirical support for the proposed relationship between maladaptive thought related beliefs, thought management strategies, and obsessive thinking. Next, this study explored the potential impact of targeting and altering maladaptive thought related beliefs and thought management strategies, through mindfulness-based training (thought acceptance), in comparison to relaxation-based training (thought control). Finally, this study assessed which, if any, participant characteristics were associated with positively responding to mindfulness training. Results highlighted the strong relationship between maladaptive thought related beliefs, thought management strategies and obsessive thinking, with mindfulness mediating the relationship between maladaptive thought related beliefs and obsessive thinking. Research results also lend support for the potential efficacy of both mindfulness as well as relaxation based training, for the treatment of obsessive thinking. Participants assigned to both conditions exhibited decreased obsessive thinking as well increased positive mood state and decreased maladaptive thought related beliefs. Process related analysis uncovered a significant relationship between decreased maladaptive thought related beliefs and decreased obsessive thinking for the mindfulness condition, providing initial evidence for changes in meta-cognitive beliefs as an active ingredient in mindfulness training. In contrast, a significant relationship between decreased maladaptive thought related beliefs and decreased obsessive thinking was not found for the relaxation condition. Finally, when assessing participant characteristics associated with positively responding to mindfulness training, level of obsessive thinking predicted self reporting to have obtained a significant benefit from engaging in mindfulness training, with study participants experiencing higher levels of obsessive thinking interpreting the mindfulness intervention as more beneficial than study participants who experienced lower levels of obsessive thinking. These findings offer initial evidence that mindfulness training may be a useful treatment approach, in targeting and altering maladaptive thought related beliefs, for the treatment of obsessive thinking. / text