Anger and aggressiveness in obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and the mediating role of responsibility, non-acceptance of emotions, and social desirability

Abstract

According to psychodynamic and cognitive models of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), anger and aggression play an important role in the development and maintenance of the disorder. (Sub-) clinical samples with OCD have reported higher anger and anger suppression. Patients with checking-related symptoms of OCD showed a less aggressive self-concept as assessed by an Implicit Association Test (IAT). This study assessed anger and aggressiveness self-concepts in OCD as well as possible mediators of the link between OCD and aggressiveness. A total of 48 patients with OCD and 45 healthy controls were included. Measures included the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-II and an aggressiveness self-concept IAT (Agg-IAT). An inflated sense of responsibility, non-acceptance of emotions, and social desirability were tested as mediators. As expected, patients with OCD reported higher trait anger and anger suppression compared to healthy controls. Contrary to hypotheses, the aggressiveness self-concept (Agg-IAT) did not differ between groups. The inflated sense of responsibility mediated the relationship between group and anger suppression. Non-acceptance of negative emotions mediated the relationship between group and trait anger, as well as anger suppression. However, comorbidities and medication may account for some effect in anger suppression. Elevated trait anger and anger suppression in OCD patients could be explained by dysfunctional beliefs or maladaptive emotion regulation strategies. Emotion regulation therapy might help to enhance awareness and acceptance of emotions and possibly improve treatment outcomes.

Mediating Mechanisms of Perfectionism: Clinical Comorbidity of OCD and ED

“…At this point, few studies referred in OCD patients report the performance that goals exert on perfectionism levels ( 98 , 99 ), as well as on AN ( 69 , 100 , 101 ) and BN ( 102 , 103 ). However, the mediating role of emotional regulation on OCD points to indicators of ( 104 , 105 ) AN ( 106 – 111 ), BN ( 108 , 112 – 115 ), and anxiety ( 116 – 118 ).…”

Acceptance Mindfulness-Trait as a Protective Factor for Post-Natal Depression: A Preliminary Research

“…Interestingly, mindfulness practices improve one's ability to be mindful [93]. Mindfulness practices rely on training one's mind to sustain attention on bodily experiences, primarily breathing, and deliberately return one's attention to these experiences whenever they are distracted [94].…”

“…Meditation consists of concentrating on one's sensations during breathing exercises, which then represent an attentional baseline, thus making it possible to notify any other body sensation in relation to this baseline. Among these practices, we should note "mindfulness-based stress reduction" (MBSR) [39,93] and the "mindfulness-based cognitive therapy" (MBCT) [97]. These first programs were used to focus on the management of chronic pain, stress and then depression.…”

Obsessive–compulsive existential type: a dialectical-phenomenological approach

“…It is not possible to keep a safe distance from alterity; others cease to be harmless, innocuous, understanding, or natural. Some patients report ambiguous and contradictory feelings and cannot deal with negative emotions ( Cludius et al, 2021 ). For example, a puerperal patient experienced difficulty understanding intrusive thoughts of strangling or hurting her beloved newborn baby with a knife.…”