Cognitive models of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) suggest that an ambivalent self-concept and dysfunctional beliefs play an important role in the pathogenesis of OCD. Early attachment experience is argued to be the main process through which such ambivalent self-representations develop. The current study investigated self-concept clarity, a broader construct than ambivalence, attachment security, obsessive-compulsive (OC)-relevant beliefs and their relation to OC symptoms. Forty four people who reported experiencing OC symptoms were compared to 34 individuals who reported no mental health difficulties. People who experienced OC symptoms exhibited significantly less self-concept clarity, less attachment security and higher levels of OC-related beliefs. Once levels of depression were controlled for, no significant relationship between attachment security and self-concept clarity was found in the OCD group. OC symptoms were not significantly correlated with self-concept clarity in the OCD group, although significant negative relationships were found between self-concept clarity and specific OC symptoms. Evidence was found to support the notion that OC-relevant beliefs mediate the relationship between self-concept clarity and OC symptoms, in addition to mediating the relationship between attachment anxiety and OC symptoms. Implications for attachment theory and cognitive models of OCD are discussed, along with clinical and research implications.

There is growing support for the use of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) as a treatment for adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). No research has been published to date on the use of ACT as a treatment for adolescent OCD. To begin investigating ACT for youth OCD, a multiple baseline study was conducted. The primary measure was self-monitoring of compulsions and assessor completed (CYBOCS). Three adolescent participants, ages 12 to 17, were treated with 8 to 10 sessions of ACT (without exposure). Results showed that the intervention was successful for all participants, with a 40% mean reduction in self-reported compulsions. Near absence of compulsions was reported by two of three participants at posttreatment. CY-BOCS ratings decreased by an average of 28.2%. Treatment procedures were rated by participants and parents as highly acceptable. Experimental and clinical implications of results are discussed. Data suggest that ACT may be a viable treatment as an alternative or an adjunct to exposure-based treatments.

Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Texas at Arlington, 2008.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with brain abnormalities in the areas that regulate emotions, and it is postulated that people with OCD have difficulty downregulating ( = reducing) their negative emotions. This study recruited 20 participants with OCD and 20 controls to rate 294 emotional photos (emotional stimuli not related to OCD) for emotional valence. Participants were then asked to downregulate while they saw the 20 photos with the highest negative ratings and 20 photos with the highest positive ratings. Participants with OCD had more difficulty downregulating their negative emotions than controls. Evidence for that is that (1) participants with OCD gave significantly higher ratings to the affectively negative photos in the postregulation phase, after adjusting for their preregulation ratings and (2) participants with OCD took significantly more time to regulate both their negative and positive emotions. The findings suggest that individuals with OCD not only present with the symptoms that are specified in the OCD diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV TR (American Psychiatric Association, 2000), but also with difficulty downregulating their negative emotions to non obsessive-compulsive (nonOC) affectively negative stimuli. Clinicians may consider adding emotion regulation skills to psychological treatments of OCD. / published_or_final_version / Clinical Psychology / Doctoral / Doctor of Psychology

According to the cognitive model, Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is maintained by various belief factors such as an inflated sense of responsibility, perfectionism and an overestimation about the importance of thoughts. Despite much support for this hypothesis, there is a lack of understanding about the role of self-concept in the maintenance or treatment of OCD. Guidano and Liotti (1983) suggest that individuals who are ambivalent about their self-worth, personal morality and lovability use perfectionistic and obsessive compulsive behaviours to continuously restore self-esteem. This thesis develops a model of OCD that integrates self-ambivalence in the cognitive model of OCD. (For complete abstract open document)

Thesis (M. App. Psych.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Psychology, 1994? / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-74).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2004. / Advisor: Dr. Thomas E. Joiner, Jr., Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Psychology. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 23, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Victoria University of Wellington, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Rowan University, 2005. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Canterbury, 2005. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 256-326). Also available via the World Wide Web.