The Effect of Mindfulness Therapy on Tolerance of Uncertainty and Thought-Action Fusion in Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a serious disorder that affects psychological, communicative, social, and emotional processes. Accordingly, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of mindfulness therapy on tolerance of uncertainty, and thought-action fusion in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Method: This was a semi-experimental study with pre-test-post-test control group design with a follow-up of two months. The sample consisted of 30 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder in Isfahan during the academic year of 2017-2018.They were selected by purposeful sampling. The experimental group received mindfulness intervention in 10 sessions of 75 minutes during three months. Maudsley obsession questionnaire (Hajson and Rachman, 1980), tolerance of uncertainty (Mcleen, 1993), and thought-action fusion questionnaire (Shefran et.al, 1996) were used to collect data. Data were analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA. Results: The results showed that mindfulness therapy had a significant effect on the tolerance of uncertainty and thought-action fusion in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (F = 11.13, F = 79.98, P <0.001). Also, the effect of this treatment is maintained during the follow-up phase (P <0/001). The degree of statistical effect of mindfulness therapy on tolerance of uncertainty and thought-action fusion were 40% and 73% respectively. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that by creating knowledge of thoughts and feelings, the mindfulness therapy can increase tolerance of uncertainty and reduce the thought-action fusion in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder.

Times Are Harsh, Be Kind to Yourself! Anxiety, Life Satisfaction, and the Mediating Role of Self-Compassion

“…Our findings suggested significant negative associations between prospective anxiety self-compassion and life satisfaction, as well as between inhibitory anxiety and self-compassion. Thus, our findings align with previous research that highlighted these associations (e.g., Barnard and Curry, 2011 ; Asli Azad et al, 2019 ; Tang, 2019 ; Satici et al, 2020 ; Deniz, 2021 ). Furthermore, following mediation analyses, our results suggested a total mediating effect of self-compassion on the relationship between participants’ prospective and inhibitory anxiety and their life satisfaction.…”

“…Since self-compassion seems to reinforce one’s positive re-evaluation and promote active coping behaviors, self-compassion also contributes to lower levels of IU. For example, Tang (2019) suggested that self-compassion was a significant negative predictor of IU, as well as mindfulness therapy ( Asli Azad et al, 2019 ), which is a well-known facet of self-compassion ( Barnard and Curry, 2011 ). Also, since IU challenges one’s positive psychological state and general wellbeing, triggering stress ( Satici et al, 2020 ), it can also decrease life satisfaction, especially during challenging times, such as the pandemic, when uncertainty increases fear of COVID-19 ( Satici et al, 2020 ; Rettie and Daniels, 2021 ; Maftei and Holman, 2022 ).…”

“…Previous studies (e.g., Deniz, 2021 ) made it clear that IU might decrease people’s life satisfaction, but the dynamic concerning both facets of IU, through self-compassion, is not yet clear at the peak of the deadliest pandemic wave in Romania. Based on the previous findings exploring the relationship between IU, life satisfaction, self-compassion, and the dynamic multi-directional ways of these relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., Barnard and Curry, 2011 ; Asli Azad et al, 2019 ; Tang, 2019 ; Satici et al, 2020 ; Deniz, 2021 ; Rettie and Daniels, 2021 ), we explored the potential significant indirect effect of self-compassion on both facets of IU and their link with life satisfaction.…”

Self-compassion, intolerance of uncertainty, fear of COVID-19, and well-being: A serial mediation investigation

“…Likewise, in a more recent study, it was also determined that self-compassion was a predictor of intolerance of uncertainty in a negative manner ( Tang, 2019 ). Furthermore, mindfulness therapy which is similar in nature to self-compassion, has been identified as significantly reducing intolerance of uncertainty ( Asli Azad et al, 2019 ). During COVID-19, it has been put forward that intolerance of uncertainty increases fear of the virus and decreases well-being ( Saricali et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Indeed, situations may be perceived from a healthier stance, by easing proactivity and evaluating the situation with moderation whilst distancing one's self from cruel pursuits and resisting the toxic effects of guilt and shame ( Neely et al, 2009 ; Terry & Leary, 2011 ). In a study which tested the relationship between self-compassion and intolerance of uncertainty with a structural model, the two variables were found to have a negative correlation and self-compassion was determined as being a direct negative predictor of intolerance of uncertainty ( Tang, 2019 ) Alongside this, mindfulness therapy, which inherently incorporates self-compassion was found to have a significant effect on intolerance of uncertainty ( Asli Azad et al, 2019 ). In contrast, as intolerance of uncertainty is stressful and upsetting ( Buhr & Dugas, 2002 ) and likely to be triggered by emotions perceived from loss of control ( Satici, Saricali, et al, 2020c ), it can be foreseen to possibly increase the fear of COVID-19.…”