The Salkovskis (1999) model of obsessive-compulsive disorder (QGD) provides a clinically useful aid to formulation and treatment of OCD (Fenger et al., 2007). Despite fragmented evidence for several of the components and processes in the model, to date there has been no complete empirical evaluation of the model as a whole, and as such, the model represents an untested clinical theory. The present thesis aimed to test and amend this clinical theory by a) reviewing the literature for the individual components and processes of the model; b) operationalizing the components of the model (and additional relevant phenomena) and using structural equation modelling to assess the proposed structure; c) experimentally testing the core emphasis placed by the model on misinterpretation of intrusions, by using a provocation of an obsession-like thought; and d) investigating the proposed central role for misinterpretation of intrusive thoughts in the model, by assessing the relationship between intrusions and creativity. Results indicated that whilst the Salkovskis model was empirically plausible and parsimonious, the focus on responsibility beliefs and appraisals was not sufficient to account for the full range of obsessive-compulsive phenomena. Responsibility appraisals were particularly important in eliciting neutralising behaviour, but obsessional anxiety was more closely linked with morality appraisals. The importance of/need to control thoughts and perfectionism/intolerance of uncertainty belief domains explained additional variance in the tendency to misinterpret intrusions. Disgust sensitivity was also a stronger predictor of obsessional anxiety than any obsessive belief domain, and this relationship was mediated by misinterpretations, supporting a disgust appraisal model. Additional results indicated a relationship between intrusive thoughts and creativity, and a negative relationship between misinterpretation of intrusions and creativity, providing further support for the proposed destructive role of misinterpretation of otherwise innocuous intrusive thoughts in OCD. Theoretical and clinical implications were discussed throughout.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:678816 |
| Date | January 2015 |
| Creators | Mitchell, Ryan |
| Publisher | Queen's University Belfast |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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