Culture and psychopathology: superstition and obsessive-compulsive cognitions and symptoms in a non-clinical Italian sample

Thematic Content Analysis of Repugnant Intrusions in Highly Religious Canadian and Turkish Samples

The degree of religiosity, a culturally relevant concept, has been associated with obsessive phenomena such as obsessional symptoms, the nature of unwanted intrusive thoughts, and responses to intrusive thoughts. Although previous research reported that repugnant (i.e., sexual and religious) intrusions had the lowest endorsement rates, these were also the most difficult to control and more likely to turn into obsessions. Highly religious individuals are more likely to be distressed by repugnant intrusions as the repugnant nature of intrusive thoughts critically threatens the perceived self. Thus, individuals with high religiosity may be more likely to respond to repugnant intrusions with dysfunctional strategies and thus become more vulnerable to OCD. This study presents the endorsement rates and qualitative features of sexual and religious intrusions among highly religious Canadian and Turkish samples. Highly religious participants were interviewed using the International Intrusive Thoughts Interview Schedule (IITIS). Thematic content analysis of the IITIS data was conducted with MAXQDA. Sexual intrusion themes of Forceful Sex, Gay Sex, Immoral Sex, and Sex with Undesirable People were identified in both samples. Religious intrusion themes of Questioning, How They Are Perceived by God, Violating Religious Doctrines, Punishment by God, and Worship also emerged in both samples. The percentages of these themes suggested the presence of cross-cultural qualitative similarities and differences.

Assessment of Obsessive Thoughts About COVID-19 in 7 Latin American Countries: Structure and Measurement Invariance of the Obsession With COVID-19 Scale

The present study aimed to evaluate the measurement invariance of the Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS) among seven Latin American countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Although the OCS has been used in several countries and languages, there is a need for approaches that better integrate the cross-cultural equivalence of the scale. A total of 3185 people participated in the study. The results indicated the presence of a unidimensional structure and good reliability indices for the OCS in each country. The alignment method indicated that the OCS is an invariant measure of COVID-19 obsession among the populations of seven Latin American countries. The findings based on IRT analysis indicated that all OCS items had adequate discrimination and difficulty parameters. The findings contribute to the understanding of the internal structure of the scale in different countries at the same time, something that has been pending evaluation.

The relationship between body dysmorphic disorder symptoms and 'not just right' experiences in a sample of individuals seeking cosmetic surgery and aesthetic medicine procedures

BACKGROUND

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is characterized by concerns for perceived defects in physical appearance that appear to others as mild or unobservable. Individuals with BDD frequently refer concerns with their physical appearance being 'not right' (not just right experiences; NJREs), and BDD-related behaviours may be performed until their appearance is perceived as 'right'. The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between BDD and NJREs in cosmetic surgery and aesthetic medicine settings.

METHODS

Individuals requesting cosmetic procedures with BDD symptoms (BDD-symptoms group; n = 24), without BDD symptoms (cosmetic intervention [CI] group; n = 45), and individuals that have never required these procedures (no cosmetic intervention [NCI] group; n = 53) entered the study.

RESULTS

Results showed a greater number of past-month NJREs, higher NJREs severity, higher drive for thinness, and greater general distress in the BDD-symptoms group. Pertaining to features associated with NJREs (perfectionism and obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms) and ED core features, the BDD-symptoms group scored higher only with respect to NCI. Regression analyses showed that BDD symptoms were predicted by age, NJREs severity, and drive for thinness above and beyond general distress, perfectionism, obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, bulimia, and body dissatisfaction related to weight and shape in the BDD-Symptoms group (in comparison with the CI and NCI groups).

CONCLUSIONS

NJREs may represent a potential vulnerability factor for BDD symptoms in cosmetic settings.

Confidence Charms: How Superstition Influences Overconfidence Bias in Han and the Qiang Ethnic Minority Chinese

The overconfidence effect is a cognitive bias in which individuals' subjective confidence in their judgements is greater than their actual performance. Extending beyond a range of contributing factors in the emergence of the overconfidence bias, the present research examines whether superstition, an under-explored yet important factor, can influence people's perceived level of confidence. Drawing on previous findings regarding the consequences of superstitions, we propose that activating the good-luck-related superstitions can increase overconfidence in one's judgment. Specifically, Experiments 1 and 2 show that Chinese Han student and non-student participants, who were activated by different types of superstitions, displayed a higher level of overconfidence than those in the absence of superstition. Experiment 3 fully replicated the causal effect of superstition beliefs on the heightened overconfidence bias in a traditional population of Chinese Qiang people. Moreover, Experiments 1 through 3 consistently show that self-efficacy mediates the relationship between superstition and overconfidence. Taken together, these findings suggest that superstition strengthens people's belief in their own performance ability, which in turn boosts overconfidence.

Do you believe in magical thinking? Examining magical thinking as a mediator between obsessive-compulsive belief domains and symptoms

BACKGROUND

Despite substantial research attention on obsessive beliefs, more research is needed to understand how these beliefs serve as aetiological or maintaining factors for obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms. Magical thinking may allow individuals to gain a sense of control when experiencing intrusive thoughts and corresponding obsessive beliefs, potentially accounting for why OC belief domains are often related to OC symptoms.

AIMS

This study examines magical thinking as a mediating variable in the relationship between OC belief domains and symptoms.

METHOD

Undergraduate students (n = 284) reported their obsessive beliefs, magical thinking, and OC symptoms.

RESULTS

As expected, there were significant indirect effects for the belief domain of inflated responsibility and over-estimation of threat on OC symptoms via magical thinking. There was also an indirect effect for the belief domain of importance and control of thoughts on OC symptoms via magical thinking. Unexpectedly, there was no indirect effect involving the belief domain of perfectionism and intolerance of uncertainty.

CONCLUSIONS

Magical thinking may be one mechanism through which certain OC beliefs lead to OC symptoms. It may be that magical thinking serves as a coping mechanism in response to elevated beliefs. Future studies should extend these findings across time and clinical samples.

The Role of Magical Thinking, Religiosity and Thought-Control Strategies in Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in a Turkish Adult Sample

Background: It has been suggested that magical thinking is related to both obsessions and compulsions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Recent studies have indicated the significant relationship between level of religiosity and beliefs about the importance and need to control unwanted thoughts in OCD. People also use diverse strategies to control their unwanted thoughts. Aims: The present study aimed to examine the interrelationships between magical thinking and worry and punishment as thought-control strategies in mediating the relationship between religiosity and obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms in a Turkish sample. Methods: The sample of the present study was comprised of 179 non-clinical, community-based participants who completed measures of OC symptoms (measured with the Obsessive Compulsive Inventory — Revised), magical thinking (measured with the Magical Ideation Scale), religiosity, and thought-control strategies (measured with the Thought Control Questionnaire). Results: Both worry and punishment as thought-control strategies and magical thinking mediated the links between religiosity and OC symptoms. Furthermore, the relationship between religiosity and OC symptoms was mediated by magical thinking through punishment and worry. Conclusions: Findings pointing out the mediating role of magical thinking through punishment and worry in the relationship between religiosity and OC symptoms are novel and need to be replicated in future studies.

Symptom dimensions in obsessive-compulsive disorder: differences in distress, interference, appraisals and neutralizing strategies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Cognitive proposals about the mediating role of misinterpretations, emotional reactions, and control strategies in the escalation of obsessional intrusive thoughts (OIT) to clinical obsessions have received only partial support. This study aims to examine these variables, taking into account the obsession/OIT contents and the severity of the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

METHODS

After identifying their most upsetting OIT/obsession, 61 OCD patients and 61 non-clinical individuals assessed the associated distress, interference and appraisals, and the strategies used to control the obsession/OIT.

RESULTS

Compared with the nonclinical subjects, OCD individuals scored higher on all variables. The obsession's severity was associated with high disturbance, interference and dysfunctional appraisals, whereas the compulsion's severity was related to specific control strategies. Different obsessional contents produced similar emotional disturbance and interference. However, obsessional contents influence the amount of adscription to different dysfunctional appraisals and the frequency of use of several control strategies.

LIMITATIONS

Our conclusions are limited by the scarce number of patients representing the various obsessive contents, specially order.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, superstitious obsessions were more dysfunctionally appraised than the other obsessional contents, inducing both covert and overt neutralizing strategies, whereas contamination obsessions were less dysfunctionally appraised.

The role of magical thinking in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder symptoms and cognitions in an analogue sample

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

In addition to clinical observations exemplifying biased reasoning styles (e.g., overemphasis of thoughts) and particular ritualistic behaviors, it is also empirically supported that magical beliefs are also associated with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) symptoms and some cognitions. It should be noted, however, that most empirical studies have been carried out on the samples from Western cultures, even though these beliefs were culturally determined. Thus, more research is needed in order to understand their roles in the OCD symptoms in different cultural contexts. The present study aimed to examine the impact of magical beliefs in OCD symptoms, cognitions and thought control in a non-Western analogue sample from Turkey.

METHOD

The measures of paranormal beliefs, fusion of thoughts-actions, obsessive beliefs, strategies of thought control and OCD symptoms were administered to an undergraduate sample.

RESULT

Consistent with findings in the literature, the analyses of group comparisons, correlation and regression showed that even after controlling general negative affect, magical beliefs were still associated with OCD symptoms, some beliefs and control strategies, namely the symptoms of obsessional thoughts and checking, fusions of thoughts and actions in likelihood, faulty beliefs in perfectionism-certainty and punishment.

LIMITATIONS

Some methodological concerns such as cross-sectional nature, inclusion of only non-clinical sample were major restrictions of the present study.

CONCLUSION

Evidence that magical thinking is a critical factor in the OCD is supported once more in a different cultural context.

In search of specificity: "not just right experiences" and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in non-clinical and clinical Italian individuals

The cognitive model of OCD proposes that certain beliefs may contribute to the development and maintenance of this disorder. To date, however, it is not yet clear which beliefs are more relevant for explaining OCD symptomatology; moreover, their causal status is yet to be clearly established. In the effort to identify other constructs and processes related to OCD, the phenomenon labeled "not just right experiences" (NJREs) has received increasing attention. In this study, measures of NJREs (the NJRE-Q-R), OCD symptoms, general distress (i.e., anxiety, and depression), and perfectionism were administered to a large sample of college students and a small sample of OCD and non-OCD patients. The clinical sample also completed a measure of OC beliefs. Results showed that NJREs could be reliably measured through a self-report format in non-clinical and clinical Italian individuals. A specific association between NJREs severity and OCD symptoms was found in the non-clinical sample, after controlling for anxiety, depression, and perfectionism. The NJRE-Q-R Severity scale clearly discriminated OCD patients from patients with other anxiety disorders or depression. Lastly, the NJREs measure differentiated the clinical groups when OC beliefs were controlled, whereas OC beliefs did not discriminate among the groups after NJREs severity was controlled. The concept of NJREs may contribute to improve current psychological and biological model of OCD.

The Italian version of the obsessive compulsive inventory: its psychometric properties on community and clinical samples

The aim of the study was to evaluate psychometric properties of the Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (OCI) on Italian community and clinical samples. The Italian version of the 42-item OCI was administered to a sample of 340 individuals belonging to the general population and to 88 patients with obsessive compulsive (OCD) or other anxiety disorders. Four different internal structures of the OCI were compared through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA): the figures for the model with six factors and 18 items (OCI-R) met the best criteria for adequacy of fit. The six scales showed on average a 10% of common variance in the community sample and 8% in the clinical sample. The OCI-R subscales showed good internal consistency and temporal stability, with the exception of washing and mental neutralizing subscales which showed a strong alpha coefficient only in the OCD sample. Psychometric data for the OCI-R were insensitive to age and sex, whereas an effect of education was found. Concurrent validity was demonstrated, since the OCI-R subscales showed a pattern of specific correlations with another conceptually related self-report measure. Moreover, although the OCI-R was positively correlated with measures of depression, anxiety, and worry, the correlations were weaker than those with the other measure of OCD symptoms. The OCI-R clearly differentiated OCD patients from non-OCD anxious patients and nonclinical controls with the exception of hoarding subscale. However, the hoarding scale discriminated OCD patients who presented hoarding symptoms from OCD counterparts without such symptoms. Thus, the OCI-R proved to be a reliable and valid measure of obsessive compulsive symptoms in the Italian context.

Anxiety disorders and control related beliefs: the exemplar of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Beliefs about control have been postulated to be important to anxiety and mood disorders. In particular, the phenomenology of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) suggests that it may be an exemplar of an anxiety disorder where control issues related to the self (behavior and thoughts) and world (the external environment) are particularly important. However, only beliefs concerning the need to control thoughts have been incorporated into contemporary theories of OCD. This article summarizes the theoretical and empirical research relevant to control-related beliefs in OCD. It is suggested that discrepancies between an individual's desired level of control and their perceived level of control could contribute to OCD symptoms, and exacerbate the tendency for individuals with OCD to engage in magical ideation and superstitious rituals. Overall, this review demonstrates how consideration of control cognitions could enhance our understanding of OCD and further improve its treatment.

The relationship between miscellaneous symptoms and major symptom factors in obsessive-compulsive disorder

The diverse symptomatology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is being increasingly regarded as reducible to a few symptom dimensions. However, prevailing factor-analytically derived models of symptom structure omit a number of the well-recognized "miscellaneous" symptoms of OCD. This study sought to determine whether miscellaneous OCD symptoms, ascertained by the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale symptom checklist, could be differentially and reliably predicted by four symptom factors (obsessions and checking, symmetry and ordering, contamination and cleaning, and hoarding) in two independent groups of individuals with OCD (n=381 and n=107). Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association of each of the miscellaneous symptoms with the symptom factors; then a single confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test the model of associations in the smaller sample. Sixteen (89%) of the 18 symptoms examined were reliably predicted by one (11 items) or two (5 items) of the factors, with obsessions and checking and symmetry and ordering emerging as foremost predictors. The expanded four-factor model showed good fit with data from the second sample. Results are conceptually meaningful, but suggest the inadequacy of groupings based solely upon overt behaviors. These findings may aid clinical understanding of OCD and be of value to studies using symptom factors to guide investigation of its causes and correlates.

A study of the psychometric properties of the Obsessive Beliefs Inventory and Interpretations of Intrusions Inventory on clinical Italian individuals

Forty-three individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), 17 with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and 50 non-clinical controls (SC), completed the Italian versions of the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ) and the Interpretations of Intrusions Inventory (III), along with measures of obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms, depression, anxiety and worry. OBQ and III showed an excellent reliability and temporal stability. The six OBQ subscales were reasonably distinct from each other, whereas the three subscales of the III were highly interrelated. The OBQ, and in less measure the III, discriminated between OCD, GAD, and normal controls. In the OCD cohort, the two instruments correlated moderately with a measure of obsessive-compulsive symptoms but also with a measure of worry. However, a linear regression analysis evidenced a specific relationship between the OBQ and obsessive-compulsive symptoms over and above worry. Overall, at least three cognitive domains (intolerance of uncertainty, excessive concern about the importance of controlling one's thoughts and perfectionism) seemed specific to OCD, whereas overimportance of thoughts and inflated responsibility barely discriminate clinically anxious individuals from non-clinical ones. It is concluded that OBQ and III are useful measures in Italian individuals and that more research is warranted to possibly refine these two instruments.

Private Self-Consciousness Factors: Relationships With Need for Cognition, Locus of Control, and Obsessive Thinking in Iran and the United States

The authors measured Internal State Awareness (ISA) and Self-Reflectiveness (SR) factors from the Private Self-Consciousness Scale in Iranian (N = 325) and U.S. (N = 401) university students. In both societies, positive correlations with Need for Cognition and Internal Control and negative correlations with external control and obsessive thinking confirmed ISA as an adaptive form of self-consciousness. In partial correlations in which the authors controlled for ISA, SR was associated cross-culturally with greater Obsessive Thinking. This outcome conformed with the authors' expectations that SR would have negative mental health implications, but other data revealed complexities in the SR association with adjustment. Differences between samples failed to yield any simple support for F. Fukuyama's (1992) suggestion that Iranians might be more "alienated" (pp. 236-237) in their psychological functioning. The present study most importantly offered cross-cultural evidence in favor of the claim that better measures of an introspective self-awareness need to be developed.

Religiousness and obsessive-compulsive cognitions and symptoms in an Italian population

Fifty-four individuals with a high degree of religiosity, 47 with a medium degree of religiosity and 64 with low religiosity completed anonymously the Italian versions of well-established measures of obsessive-compulsive (OC) cognitions and symptoms, depression and anxiety. After controlling for anxiety and depression, religious groups scored higher than individuals with a low degree of religiosity on measures of obsessionality, overimportance of thoughts, control of thoughts, perfectionism and responsibility. Moreover, measures of control of thoughts and overimportance of thoughts were associated with OC symptoms only in religious subjects. It is concluded that religion might play a role in obsessive-compulsive disorder phenomenology. Additional research is warranted because it is plausible that only a few aspects of religious teachings (e.g., inflexibility and prohibition) are linked to OC phenomena.