New perspectives for a cognitive theory of obsessions

Abstract

Salkovskis (1985Salkovskis ( , 1989 proposed a cognitive-behavioural theory to account for the development and persistence of clinical obsessions. The model considers two cognitive processes central in the develop ment of obsessions. First, the obsession-prone person attributes excessive personal responsibility of possible harm occurring to self or others in response to an unwanted intrusive thought. Secondly, in an attempt to deal with the discomfort and sense of responsibility associated with the intrusion, the individual develops overt or covert neutralising rituals that, in turn, increase the frequency and salience of the intrusion. In this paper we examine the empirical support for Salkovskis' theory and conclude that partial support can be found for the model. Consideration of the thought suppression research of Wegner and his associates (Wegner, in press) suggests a number of processes that may be involved in a reduced ability to control unwanted intrusive thoughts. The thought suppression research is reviewed and possible implications for obsessions are discussed. We then present a revised cognitive model of obsessions that focuses on the development of obsessions as the result of (a) dysfunctional beliefs concerning the need to control one's thoughts and @) various cognitive processes involved in a general breakdown of the obsessionprone person's mental control ability. The two models are discussed in terms of their implications for the treatment of obsessions.

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.…”

Les troubles obsessionnels-compulsifs : appartiennent-ils aux troubles anxieux ou à une autre famille de troubles mentaux ?

“…Il est également important de mentionner que les items qu'utilisaient les questionnaires, dans les études ci-haut mentionnées, ne différencient aucunement les intrusions obsessionnelles : a) des pensées automatiques négatives (Clark et Purdon, 1993) ; et b) des inquiétudes qu'on retrouve chez les gens qui souffrent d'un trouble d'anxiété généralisée (TAG).…”

When moral concerns become a psychological disorder: The case of obsessive–compulsive disorder.

“…Specifically, they proposed that the transformation of intrusive thoughts into obsessions is moderated by the extent to which intrusive thoughts challenge core perceptions of the self. Indeed, Bhar and Kyrios (2007), Clark andPurdon (1993), andRachman (1997) had already argued that the appraisal of an intrusive thought as inconsistent with one's sense of self (i.e., as ego-dystonic) contributes to the formation of obsessions. Along this line of thinking, Clark (2004) wrote that if "obsession-prone individuals have a preexisting ambivalent or fragile self-view, then unwanted intrusive thoughts that are completely contrary to this self view are more likely to be interpreted as highly significant or threatening" (p. 141).…”