Intrusive thoughts in non‐clinical subjects: the role of frequency and unpleasantness on appraisal ratings and control strategies

Abstract

This study explores the frequency of the appearance of intrusive thoughts in normal people, as well their association with cognitive appraisals and control strategies. A total of 336 subjects completed the Spanish adaptation of the Obsessional Intrusions Inventory-Revised (ROII), designed by Purdon and Clark (1993, 1994a, 1994b). Most of the subjects (99.4%) reported experiencing intrusive thoughts occasionally, but only 13% reported having them with some frequency. The intrusions were included in two factors: aggression, sexually and socially inappropriate behaviours, and doubts, checking, and cleanliness. The frequency of appearance of the most upsetting intrusive thought was associated with: the likelihood/probability bias, the need to control the thoughts, and neutralizing strategies. Nevertheless, the unpleasantness was associated with the morality bias and a broad range of control strategies. These results are discussed in relation to the different roles that the appraisal and the thought control responses play, both regarding the persistence as well as the unpleasantness associated with the most upsetting intrusions.

Symptom dimensions in obsessive–compulsive disorder: From normal cognitive intrusions to clinical obsessions

“…Our findings suggest that the solution with the best fit at the item and parcel levels consists of six first-order factors embedded in two second-order factors. The first-order structure was similar to the solutions reported in most of the studies using OC symptom instruments (e.g., Leckman et al, 1997;Mataix-Cols et al, 2005;Summerfeldt et al, 1999), and the second-order structure is analogous to the two-factor models derived from the study of OIT (Belloch et al, 2004;Lee & Kwon, 2003;Moulding et al, 2007;Purdon & Clark, 1993, 1994a, 1994b. This two-level structure integrates the research on OC symptoms and OITs in a comprehensive model.…”

“…Nevertheless, this assumption has been questioned based on findings that community participants only experience a limited number of intrusions with content similar to that of clinical obsessions (Rassin, Cougle, & Muris, 2007;. However, the vast majority of studies, beginning with the pioneering work by Rachman and de Silva (1978), indicate the opposite: that is, that unwanted intrusive cognitions with the same contents as clinical obsessions are experienced by 80-90% of non-clinical participants (e.g., Belloch, Morillo, Lucero, Cabedo, & Carrió, 2004;Edwards & Dickerson, 1987;Freeston, Ladouceur, Thibodeau, & Gagnon, 1991;Niler & Beck, 1989;Parkinson & Rachman, 1981;Purdon & Clark, 1993, 1994a, 1994b. Since cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) models of obsessions propose that clinical obsessions have their origins in normal obsession-like intrusive thoughts, evidence of qualitative differences between non-clinical and clinical intrusive thoughts would constitute a serious challenge to the internal validity of CBT models.…”

“…In their review, Julien et al (2007) concluded that the Revised Obsessional Intrusions Inventory (ROII; Purdon & Clark, 1993, 1994b is one of the best measures of OITs. Studies analyzing OITs' dimensionality using the ROII consistently found two main factors (Belloch et al, 2004;Lee & Kwon, 2003;Moulding et al, 2007;Purdon & Clark, 1993), one including aggressive, sexual and immoral OITs and the other including doubts, fears of contamination and checking OITs. Nevertheless, the ROII has several shortcomings, such as a limited presentation of clinically relevant obsessional themes (i.e., religion, order/symmetry, or superstition).…”

Are the dysfunctional beliefs that predict worry different from those that predict obsessions?

“…Respondents rate how frequently they have had each thought on a 7-point scale from 0 = 'I have never had this thought' to 6 = 'I have this thought frequently during the day'. The Spanish adaptation of the instrument was administered (Belloch, Morillo, Lucero, Cabedo, & Carrió, 2004). It shows adequate construct validity as an instrument of OCD-relevant intrusions, both in nonclinical samples Morillo, Giménez, Belloch, Lucero, Carrió, & Cabedo, 2003) and in OCD patients (Morillo, Belloch, & García-Soriano, 2007).…”

Intrusiones sobre trastornos alimentarios en población general : desarrollo y validación del inventario de pensamientos intrusos alimentarios (INPIAS)

“…Por lo que se refiere al TOC, se ha sugerido que los contenidos de las obsesiones clínicas no difieren de ciertos pensamientos intrusos (PI) aná-logos a obsesiones que experimentan la gran mayoría de la población general (Belloch, Morillo, Lucero, Cabedo y Carrió, 2004;Clark y Purdon, 1993;Rachman y de Silva, 1978;Belloch, Morillo, García-Soriano, 2006;Gimenez, Morillo, Belloch, Carrió y Cabedo, 2004). El paso de un PI normal a una obsesión patológi-ca se produciría, según esos planteamientos, por la atribución de un significado disfuncional a la presencia y/o el contenido del PI lo que, a su vez, daría lugar a la puesta en marcha de estrategias activas para su neutralización y/o control.…”