Neutralising increases discomfort associated with obsessional thoughts: an experimental study with obsessional patients.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Neutralising increases discomfort associated with obsessional thoughts: an experimental study with obsessional patients.

AU - Salkovskis, P M

AU - Thorpe, S J

AU - Wahl, K

AU - Wroe, A L

AU - Forrester, E

PY - 2003/11

Y1 - 2003/11

N2 - Cognitive-behavioral theories suggest that the development of neutralizing is crucial in the development and persistence of obsessional problems (OCD). Twenty-nine patients with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., American Psychiatric Association, 1994) diagnosis of OCD were randomly allocated to 2 conditions. Both listened to repeated recorded presentations of their intrusive thoughts and either neutralized (experimental group) or distracted themselves (control). Discomfort was rated during this 1st phase and then during a 2nd phase without neutralizing or distraction. The experimental group showed a similar level of discomfort in the 1st phase, which significantly reduced during the period compared with controls. The experimental group experienced significantly more discomfort during the 2nd phase, and significantly Stronger urges to neutralize and distract at the end of this phase than controls.

AB - Cognitive-behavioral theories suggest that the development of neutralizing is crucial in the development and persistence of obsessional problems (OCD). Twenty-nine patients with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., American Psychiatric Association, 1994) diagnosis of OCD were randomly allocated to 2 conditions. Both listened to repeated recorded presentations of their intrusive thoughts and either neutralized (experimental group) or distracted themselves (control). Discomfort was rated during this 1st phase and then during a 2nd phase without neutralizing or distraction. The experimental group showed a similar level of discomfort in the 1st phase, which significantly reduced during the period compared with controls. The experimental group experienced significantly more discomfort during the 2nd phase, and significantly Stronger urges to neutralize and distract at the end of this phase than controls.

U2 - 10.1037/0021-843X.112.4.709

DO - 10.1037/0021-843X.112.4.709

M3 - Article

SN - 1939-1846

VL - 112

SP - 709

EP - 715

JO - Journal of Abnormal Psychology

JF - Journal of Abnormal Psychology

IS - 4

ER -