Self‐compassion and emotion regulation difficulties in obsessive–compulsive disorder

Abstract

Lack of self-compassion and deficits in emotion regulation are associated with various psychopathological symptoms and may play a role in the development and maintenance of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, further empirical research is still needed to better understand these constructs in the context of this disorder. The present study investigated the relation between self-compassion, emotion regulation difficulties, obsessive beliefs, and obsessive-compulsive symptom severity in 90 patients with OCD using self-report questionnaires. Symptom severity and obsessive beliefs were negatively correlated to self-compassion and positively associated with emotion regulation difficulties. Additionally, self-compassion showed a negative relation to emotion regulation difficulties. Emotion regulation difficulties-but not selfcompassion-predicted symptom severity when controlling for obsessive beliefs and depression in a hierarchical regression analysis. Further analyses showed that emotion regulation deficits mediated the relationship between self-compassion and OCD symptom severity. Our results provide preliminary evidence that targeting self-compassion and putting more emphasis on emotion regulation deficits might be promising treatment approaches for patients with OCD. Future studies could investigate which specific interventions that directly address these variables improve treatment outcome.

Empathy, compassion, and theory of mind in obsessive‐compulsive disorder

“…Hence, OC symptoms and related problems in their interpersonal relationships might not be solved by enhancing empathy for others in the clients. The overdrive in empathy reflected by the self-reported personal distress when faced with others' negative emotions suggests that deficits in emotional regulation abilities might be the underlying factor, which is supported by studies showing emotion regulation deficits in people with OCD (Chase et al, 2019;Eichholz et al, 2020). Experiencing a social form of empathy (other-focused) rather than personal distress (self-focused) in response to someone's suffering requires regulation abilities of one's own emotions (Eisenberg, 2010), as the limitation of personal distress is a premise to be able to respond to another human being in need (Decety & Jackson, 2004).…”

“…Our study sheds light on the short‐term functionality of OCD symptomatology in social contexts, namely regulating the stressful emotions that arise out of high empathy levels, and might explain why OCD is linked to interpersonal problems (Adam et al., 2012; Lochner et al., 2003; Ruscio et al., 2010). Independent of traditional interventions, it could prove useful to improve emotion regulation skills (Eichholz et al., 2020) so people with OCD learn to cope with empathic distress. Furthermore, it might strengthen the treatment gains and lower dropout rates if the social mind and consequently social relationships become a topic in the treatment and prevention of OCD (Abramowitz et al., 2013).…”

The Bidirectional Effects of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation in Chinese Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Dynamic Structural Equation Model

“…Although some crosssectional studies obtained a signi cant mediation path that DER affected OC, this inference was not causally persuasive. For instance, Eichholz et al (2020) con rmed that DER played a mediating role in self-compassion affecting OC symptom severity in patients (n = 90). Combining the previous research and the epidemic's situation, it can be inferred that they are more likely to present a mutual in uence.…”

Mechanisms and Effectiveness of Imagery Strategies in Reducing Disgust in Contamination-Related Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: Comparing Imagery Rescripting, Imagery Self-compassion and Mood-Focused Imagery

“…Care and greater compassion for ourselves are associated with less stress, less anxiety and less depression (MacBeth & Gumley, 2012), and promote resilience and more satisfied relationships (Neff & Germer, 2013). A growing number of experimental studies have shown that CFT leads to a significant improvement in well-being and complements classical behavioural therapy methods (Eichholz et al, 2020;Sommers-Spijkerman et al, 2018). Therefore, as third strategy, a imagery self-compassion strategy was included in this experiment.…”