obsessive - compulsive disorder

Individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder and general anxiety suffer from attention bias. However, the lack of similar studies investigating attention bias in these groups necessiates a copmarison of attention bias between individuals with these disorders and those without.

The aim of this study was to compare attention bias among individuals exhibiting  symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder ( washers and checkers),  those with generalized anxiety disorder, and individuals without any diagnosed psychological conditions.

The methododology employed in this research is a causal-comparative (post-event) design. The statistical population of this study comprised all students enrolled at Tabriz University during the academic year 1401-1402.  To identify students with symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (based on Maudsley, 1997) and anxiety (following Beck, 1990) questionnaires were distributed using available methods. Subsequently, a purposive sampling technique was used to select 15 participants for each of the four groups: washers, checkers, anxious and  normal. Following the selection process, participants underwent the emotional Stroop test (Stroop, 1935), which included four categories of words: disgust, anxiety, checking and neutral words to assess attention bias. The collected data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) with SPSS-20 software.

The findings revealed that participants in the washing group exhibited significantly longer reaction time to disgust words (P≤0.001) compared to the other three groups. Similarly, individuals in the checking group demonstrated prolonged reaction time to checking words compared to the other three groups (P≤0.001). Moreover, participants in the anxiety group displayed extended reaction times to the anxiety words compared to the other groups (P≤0.001).

Based on the findings indicating heightened attention bias among individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (washers and checkers) and generalized anxiety disorder compared to the normal group, it is recommended to implement therapeutic interventions and cognitive rehabilitation strategies  aimed at reducing attention bias in these two groups.

 Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a chronic and debilitating disorder. Therefore, the aim of this study was to comparing the effectiveness of emotional efficacy therapy and exposure and response prevention therapy on perfectionism in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Methods and Materials: 

The current study was a semi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test and three month follow-up design with a control group. The research statistical population was all people with obsessive-compulsive disorder who referred to counseling centers of Tehran city in 2021 year (about 500 people). The research sample was 51 people who were selected by purposeful sampling method and randomly assigned to three groups. The first and second experimental groups underwent 8 sessions of 60 minutes, respectively by emotional efficacy therapy and exposure and response prevention therapy and the control group remained on the waiting list for therapy. The tools of the current research were the perfectionism inventory (Hill et al., 2004) and the Yale-Brown obsessive-compulsive scale (Goodman et al., 1989). The data of this research were analyzed with the methods of analysis of variance with repeated measures and Bonferroni post hoc test in SPSS-22 software.

 The results showed that both intervention methods of emotional efficacy therapy and exposure and response prevention therapy in compared to the control group led to decrease the perfectionism in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder and the results were maintained in the follow-up stage (P<0.001), but there was no significant difference between the post-test and follow-up stages and between the two intervention methods in reducing their perfectionism (P>0.05).

 According to the mentioned results, counselors and therapists can use both methods of emotional efficacy therapy and exposure and response prevention therapy to reduce perfectionism in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The purpose of this research was to determine the Effectiveness of Teaching Acceptance and Commitment on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety of Students. The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population in this research included all female students aged 14 to 16 years of Devati schools in Tabriz city in the academic year 1401-1402. The statistical sample consisted of 30 female students with obsessive-compulsive and generalized anxiety symptoms who were introduced by the school counselor and were selected by non-random sampling method and randomly placed in two experimental and control groups. Both groups were tested in the pre-test and post-test stages with Yale Brown's obsessive-compulsive questionnaire (1986), (CY-BOCS) and the short-form scale of generalized anxiety disorder by Spitz et al. (2006), (GAD-7). were evaluated. The experimental group received the acceptance and commitment training program for 10 sessions of 90 minutes, one day a week. The data obtained from the research were analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance. The significance level was considered 0/05 in all tests. The findings showed that there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in both obsessive-compulsive and pervasive anxiety variables. According to the results obtained in this research, teaching acceptance and commitment can greatly reduce the problems of obsession and anxiety of students.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and obsessive-compulsive disorder: the mediating role of self-regulation.

The research method was descriptive-correlation based on structural equations. The statistical population of the study was all patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder referred to public and private psychiatric clinics in Kermanshah City in 2021. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and receiving the diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder by a psychiatrist and based on structured clinical interviews (DSM-5) were selected by convenience sampling. Research tools included obsessive-compulsive disorder questionnaires Foa et al (2002), Self-regulation Ibanez et al (2005), and young schemas (2005). Descriptive indices and structural equation analysis in SPSS-21 and PLS-3 software were used to analyze the data.

The results showed that the proposed model has a good fit (NFI = 0.90 and SRMR = 0.079). The results of the analysis showed that early maladaptive schemas have a positive and significant relationship with obsessive-compulsive disorder and self-regulation has a negative and significant relationship with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Primary maladaptive schemas also affect obsessive-compulsive disorder through self-regulation.

The findings of this study suggest that the role of early maladaptive schemas and self-regulation should be considered in designing psychological interventions for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Obsessive symptoms, low distress tolerance, and heightened guilt represent prevalent characteristics within the clinical demographic of individuals suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). These features contribute significantly to the chronicity of this disorder, complicating the treatment trajectory and prolonging the therapeutic process. Consequently, the imperative to identify an appropriate treatment for OCD becomes more pronounced. The chronic nature of this condition inflicts substantial damage on various facets of life, including relationships, performance, work, and overall quality of life.

This study aimed to scrutinize the efficacy of schema mode therapy in ameliorating obsession symptoms, bolstering distress tolerance, and alleviating guilt among individuals diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The present research employed a single case study utilizing an ABA design. The statistical population encompassed all patients diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) attending psychological centers in Ahvaz city. The sampling method adopted for this study was Purposive, specifically selecting four individuals diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder as the research sample. To assess and measure the participants, structured interviews based on DSM-5-TR criteria were conducted, along with employing the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms Scale (Goodman et al., 1989), the Distress Tolerance Scale (Simons & Gaher, 2005), and the Guilt Scale (Kugler & Jones, 1992). The therapeutic intervention utilized in this study adhered to the schema mode therapy protocol as outlined by Ferrell et al. (2014). For data analysis, visual chart, percentage of non-overlapping data, recovery percentage and reliable change index were used.

The research findings revealed that schema mode therapy exhibited effectiveness in reducing symptoms of obsession, enhancing distress tolerance, and alleviating guilt among the subjects during both the intervention and follow-up stages. Furthermore, the reliability index value was statistically significant for all measured parameters (p< 0.05). Additionally, the percentage of recovery during the follow-up phase fell within the spectrum denoting treatment success, signifying the sustained efficacy and stability of this therapeutic intervention.

Given the obsession and chronic obsession, the necessity of an effective and sustainable treatment is important for these patients. Also, according to the results of the present study and the effectiveness of schema mode therapy on the symptoms of obsession, distress tolerance and guilt in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, the use of specific interventions and intervention techniques based on schema mentalities is suggested as a main and complementary method along with other main treatment techniques and concepts.

This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of emotion regulation in the relationship between distress tolerance and metacognitive beliefs with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The present research was a descriptive correlation. The statistical population of the research was people over 18 years of age in Tehran in 2023, and a sample of 200 people was selected and a questionnaire was distributed among them using the available sampling method from the third region. Research tools included: Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS & Goodman, et al, 1989), Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS, Simons & Gaher, 2005), Metacognition Questionnaire (MCQ, Wells & Cartwright-Hatton, 2005) and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ, Gross & John, 2003). The path analysis method was used to analyze the data. The results of the path analysis method indicated that the model fit in well. The findings showed that distress tolerance and metacognitive beliefs were able to directly predict obsessive-compulsive disorder (p<0.001) and also distress tolerance indirectly through emotion regulation (reappraisal) could predict obsessive-compulsive disorder (p<0.001). It can be concluded that distress tolerance and emotion regulation play a key role in obsessive-compulsive disorder, and it is necessary to pay attention to these factors in interaction with each other in programs to improve the quality of life of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The aim of this study investigated the effect of childhood trauma on the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder with a mediating role of self-regulation in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. In this descriptive correlational study, 300 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (161 females and 139 males) referred to public and private psychiatric clinics in Kermanshah according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and receiving a diagnosis Obsessive-compulsive disorder was selected by a psychiatrist based on structured clinical interview (DSM-5) randomly according to the number of their medical records. The instruments used in this study included Structured Clinical Interview (SCID-V), Revised Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Questionnaire by Foua et al. (2002) and the short form of Bernstein et al.'s (2003) Child Trauma Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by structural equation analysis in SPSS-21 and AMOS-24 software. The findings showed that the proposed model has a good fit with the data. In this model, the significant and direct effect of each of the variables of childhood trauma (0.405) and self-regulation (-0.163) on obsessive-compulsive disorder and also the indirect and significant effect of childhood trauma on obsessive-compulsive disorder (0.712) 0) was shown with the mentioned values (all P s <0.001).

The present study aimed to investigate the structural relationships between alexithymia and perfectionism with the mediating role of anxiety sensitivity in predicting obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in students. The design of this study is quantitative in nature. The research method is descriptive-correlational and was conducted through structural equation modeling. The statistical population in this study included all high school students in Khorramabad during the academic year 2023-2024. The sampling method used was cluster random sampling. The research instruments included the Revised Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (OCI-R), the Perfectionism Inventory (PI), the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Descriptive findings were analyzed using SPSS26 software and inferential findings were analyzed using AMOS24 software. The direct effect of maladaptive perfectionism (β=0.36, p<0.001) and alexithymia (β=0.31, p<0.001) on obsessive-compulsive disorder was significant. Additionally, the direct effect of maladaptive perfectionism (β=0.43, p<0.001) and alexithymia (β=0.48, p<0.001) on anxiety sensitivity was significant. The indirect effect of maladaptive perfectionism and alexithymia on obsessive-compulsive disorder through the mediation of anxiety sensitivity was also significant (β=0.15, p<0.03 and β=0.168, p<0.001, respectively), and the model fit was confirmed. The results showed that maladaptive perfectionism and alexithymia significantly predict OCD symptoms through anxiety sensitivity. The conceptual model of the study had a good fit (CFI=0.98, RMSEA=0.05), indicating that the hypothetical structure of the model effectively explained the relationships between the variables. Therefore, psychological interventions aimed at reducing anxiety sensitivity and managing perfectionism and alexithymia can be effective in reducing OCD symptoms.

The present study aimed to investigate the structural relationship between cognitive-obsessional beliefs and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. 315 students from University of Tabriz were randomly selected and responded to the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OCCWG) and the Revised Obsessive-Compulsive Questionnaire (OCI-R) by Foa et al. Datawere analyzed by path analysis. Results showed that 1) the effect of feeling too much responsibility on the symptoms of obsession with checking, and obsession with thought is significant. 2) The effect of overestimation of risk on the symptoms of checking obsession and intellectual obsession was significant. 3) The effect of the inability to tolerate ambiguous conditions on the symptoms of inspection obsession was significant. 4) The effect of the importance of thoughts on the symptoms of checking obsession and thought obsession was significant. 5) The effect of thought control on the symptoms of obsessive thoughts and obsession with symmetry/order was significant. These findings have practical implications in clinical settings that are discussed.

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms in individuals with the disorder in comparison to virtual reality exposure therapy. A quasi-experimental method was implemented, followed by a pretest-posttest and a two-month follow-up. The population consisted of all individuals who were referred to Nik Mehr Counseling and Psychological Services in Tehran during 2020 and 2021. Among them, 45 were selected through convenience sampling method, randomly assigned to experimental and control groups and administered Madzli's Obsessive-Compulsive Questionnaire (1980). Subsequently, the subjects were subjected to cognitive-behavioral therapy for 12 sessions (2 forty-five-minute sessions per week for 6 weeks) and virtual reality exposure for 12 sessions (2 eight-minute sessions per week for 6 weeks). No intervention was administered to the control group. The data was analyzed in SPSS.23 software using a Bonferroni post hoc test and mixed analysis of variance. The results indicated that both therapies were efficacious (F=192; Eta=0.67; P<0001) in reducing obsession syndromes in individuals with the disorder. Additionally, the follow-up test demonstrated that there is no statistically significant difference in the efficacy of these two therapies on individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (P<0.05). According to the results, since there is no difference in the effectiveness of virtual reality exposure therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy, both can be applied to reduce obsession syndromes amongst people with the disorder.

The purpose of this research is to investigate the mediating role of emotional awareness and intolerance of ambiguity in the relationship between childhood fears and brain-behavioral systems with signs and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder in high school girls and boys in Kouhdasht city. The purpose of this research is fundamental, and it is a descriptive-correlation form of structural equations in terms of its research method. The statistical population of this research is comprised of all pupils enrolled in the second secondary level of Kouhdasht city in Lorestan province during the academic year 2022-2023. According to the number of subscales (29 subscales), the sample size should be a minimum of 435. The analysis of 441 samples (273 girls and 168 boys) was conducted in this study. To collect data from the Fear Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (FSSC-R), Behavioral Inhibition/Activation Systems Scale, Emotional Awareness Questionnaire (EAQ-30), Intolerance of Uncertainty Questionnaire (IUS), and Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory – Revised (OCI-R) were employed to gather data from the Fear Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (FSSC-R). The data classification, processing, and analysis were conducted using SPSS 22 and Lisrel 8.85 statistical software. The structural equation modeling method was employed to evaluate the fit of the hypothetical model. The data analysis results indicated that the proposed model for the etiology of OCD was a reasonable fit. The findings indicated that obsessive-compulsive disorder is directly influenced by childhood fears, behavioral brain systems, emotional awareness, and intolerance of ambiguity. Additionally, this disorder is indirectly influenced by childhood anxieties and behavioral brain systems, which are characterized by an intolerance of ambiguity and an excitement of awareness. Therefore, it is recommended that these variables be incorporated into future research and the development of preventive and treatment protocols for OCD.

The purpose of this research is to the determine effectiveness of Schema Therapy with an emphasis on Schema Modes on Rumination and Perfectionism of people with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder. The research design was a quasi-experimental type with experimental and control groups in two stages, pre-test and post-test. The current research population included all patients (men and women) suffering from treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder living in Tehran, who had visited psychological clinics in Tehran since 1400-1401 30 people were selected as the sample size from among the patients suffering from treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder Tehran city, using the purposeful sampling method and using the random replacement method into two The group (15 people in the experimental group, 15 people in the control group) were divided. Data collection tools include the Rumination Scale (RRS, Nolen-Hoeksema & Morrow, 1991), Frost's Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS, Frost, 1990), Revised Obsessive-Compulsive Questionnaire (OCI- R, Foa & et al, 2002) has been The schema therapy protocol was implemented on the experimental group during 12 weekly 90-minute sessions. The results showed that by controlling the pre-test effect, there is a significant difference between the post-test mean of rumination and perfectionism in the two experimental and control groups (p<0.001). It can be concluded that schema therapy has been effective in the process of rumination and perfectionism in people with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder.