Abstract: Research suggests that the vast majority of individuals experience intrusive thoughts. Such thoughts are believed to play a role in the development and maintenance of a number of psychological disorders. Cognitive-behavioral models of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in fact assume that obsessions have their origin in normal intrusive thoughts. Such models propose that certain beliefs (e.g., thought-action fusion) combined with the use of ineffective control strategies, such as thought suppression, lead to the development of obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms. The purpose of the current study (Study I and II) was to explore the relationship between these variables in a nonclinical sample. More specifically, the goal of Study I was to explore the relationship between thought-action fusion (TAF) beliefs, thought suppression, and symptoms of OCD via mediational analyses. The results from Study I showed that thought suppression does indeed mediate the relationship between TAF beliefs and OC symptoms. The goal of Study II was to experimentally examine the effects of various coping strategies (suppression, acceptance, or monitor-only) on the frequency of a distressing intrusion and appraisal ratings (e.g., anxiety, guilt, responsibility) after a TAF induction. Limitations of the experimental manipulation make interpreting the results from Study II difficult. However, additional correlational analyses were able to provide preliminary evidence showing that suppression is related to increased intrusions, higher levels of anxiety, and negative appraisal ratings. The limitations of the current study and directions for future research are discussed.

Keywords: Psychology, Beliefs, Coping strategies, Intrusive thoughts, Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Thought suppression

Subjects: Behaviorial sciences, Psychotherapy, Psychology, Experiments, Grief, Neuroses,