Patterns of Reassurance Seeking and Reassurance-Related Behaviours in OCD and Anxiety Disorders

Kobori, Osamu; Šalkovskis, Paul M.

doi:10.1017/s1352465812000665

Cited by 60 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…These findings are in line with what has previously been described in the literature (e.g. Abramowitz et al 2003; Kobori and Salkovskis 2013; Parrish and Radomsky 2006, 2010; Salkovskis and Warwick 1986). Several motivational factors were identified.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Furthermore, caregivers of OCD patients may find the process of reassurance particularly frustrating and do not relate to the sufferer’s fears like in health anxiety. Therefore, they may not understand the reasons (or find them bizarre) for why reassurance is sought from them and thus are reluctant to give it (Kobori and Salkovskis 2013). For these reasons, it is possible that the OCD patients were more likely than the HA patients to report seeking support within the context of their emotional problem.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Excessive reassurance seeking (ERS) is particularly prominent in people who suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and health anxiety (HA) (Abramowitz and Moore 2007; Kobori and Salkovskis 2013; Salkovskis and Warwick 1986; Salkovskis et al 2003). ERS can be complex, persistent, extensive, debilitating and may dominate the interactions of those involved.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Why Do People with OCD and Health Anxiety Seek Reassurance Excessively? An Investigation of Differences and Similarities in Function

Halldorsson

Šalkovskis

2017

Cogn Ther Res

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Excessive reassurance seeking (ERS) is commonly reported in patients who have OCD or health anxiety. Despite its prevalence and associated risk of ongoing difficulties, little is known about the function of ERS. It has been conceptualised as a type of compulsive checking behaviour, but could also be seen as being a supportive maneuver. This study offers a new approach towards defining ERS and support seeking (SS), and similarities between these two constructs in a sample of OCD and health anxious patients. A semi-structured interview was employed. Participants reflected on the nature and goals of their reassurance and support seeking—its impact on themselves and other people. Twenty interviews were conducted, transcribed and analysed in accordance to framework thematic analysis. Six overarching themes were identified in terms of ERS and five for SS. Results revealed limited diagnosis specificity of ERS. Strikingly, participants with health anxiety did not report seeking support.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Why Do People with OCD and Health Anxiety Seek Reassurance Excessively? An Investigation of Differences and Similarities in Function

Halldorsson

Šalkovskis

2017

Cogn Ther Res

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“…Increased ERN amplitudes are not OCD specific and were observed in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD, e.g., Weinberg, Olvet, & Hajcak, ; Xiao et al, ), social anxiety (e.g., Endrass et al, ), health anxiety (Riesel et al, ), and less consistently in depression (Gillan et al, ; Manoach & Agam, ). These disorders are frequently comorbid (Kessler et al, ; Krueger & Markon, ; Ruscio et al, ) and share clinical features such as heightened harm avoidance (Kampman, Viikki, Jarventausta, & Leinonen, ), worry (Dar & Iqbal, ; Yook, Kim, Suh, & Lee, ), reassurance seeking and checking behavior (Halldorsson & Salkovskis, ; Kobori & Salkovskis, ; Weinberg, Kotov, & Proudfit, ). These symptoms have also been related to hyperactive neural error signals (e.g., Cavanagh & Shackman, ; Moser et al, ; Weinberg, Kotov et al, ).…”

Section: Section 2: Enhanced Neural Error Signals As Endophenotype Fomentioning

confidence: 99%

The erring brain: Error‐related negativity as an endophenotype for OCD—A review and meta‐analysis

Riesel

2019

Psychophysiology

130

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Obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) is a complex and heterogeneous disorder that is associated with high personal and societal costs. Feelings of doubt, worry, and repetitive behavior, key symptoms of OCD, have been linked to hyperactive error signals in the brain. The error‐related negativity (ERN) represents a validated marker of error processing in the ERP. Increased ERN amplitudes in OCD have been reported very robustly over the last 20 years. This article integrates results from 38 studies analyzing the ERN in OCD, using a quantitative meta‐analysis. Meta‐regressions were used to examine potential moderators such as task type, symptom severity, age, and sample size. The meta‐analysis reveals a robust increase of ERN in OCD patients compared to healthy participants in response‐conflict tasks (SMD −0.55) that is not modulated by symptom severity and age. No increase in ERN in OCD was observed in tasks that do not induce response conflict (SMD −0.10). In addition to the meta‐analysis, the current article reviews evidence supporting that increased ERN amplitudes in OCD fulfill central criteria for an endophenotype. Further, the specificity of increased ERN amplitudes for OCD and its suitability as a potential transdiagnostic endophenotype is discussed. Finally, the clinical utility and clinical applications are examined. Overall, the evidence that increased ERN amplitudes represent a promising endophenotype indicating vulnerability for OCD is compelling. Furthermore, alterations in ERN are not limited to OCD and may constitute a transdiagnostic endophenotype. Altered neural error signals might serve as a diagnostic or predictive marker and represent a promising target for interventions.

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“…Other measures assess a limited range of behaviors, like reassurance-seeking (Cougle et al, 2012;Kobori and Salkovskis, 2013;Rector et al, 2011;Speckens et al, 2000). Beesdo-Baum et al (2012) provide the most comprehensive assessment of avoidant behaviors that are associated with GAD.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Worry Behaviors Inventory: Assessing the behavioral avoidance associated with generalized anxiety disorder

Mahoney

Hobbs

Newby

et al. 2016

Journal of Affective Disorders

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Patterns of Reassurance Seeking and Reassurance-Related Behaviours in OCD and Anxiety Disorders

Abstract: Further investigation of reassurance will enable better understanding of its role in the maintenance of anxiety disorders in general and OCD in particular.

Cited by 60 publications

References 26 publications

Why Do People with OCD and Health Anxiety Seek Reassurance Excessively? An Investigation of Differences and Similarities in Function

Why Do People with OCD and Health Anxiety Seek Reassurance Excessively? An Investigation of Differences and Similarities in Function

The erring brain: Error‐related negativity as an endophenotype for OCD—A review and meta‐analysis

The Worry Behaviors Inventory: Assessing the behavioral avoidance associated with generalized anxiety disorder

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