The place of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders in the compulsive-impulsive spectrum: a cluster-analytic study

Disentangling associations between impulsivity, compulsivity, and performance monitoring

Disorders marked by high levels of impulsivity and compulsivity have been linked to changes in performance monitoring, specifically the error-related negativity (ERN). We investigated the relationship between performance monitoring and individual differences in impulsivity and compulsivity. A total of 142 participants were recruited into four groups, each with different combinations of impulsivity and compulsivity, and they performed a flanker task to assess error-related brain activity. We defined error-related brain activity as ERN amplitude and theta power. Single-trial regression was employed to analyze the amplitude differences between incorrect and correct trials within the ERN time window. The findings revealed that impulsivity, compulsivity, and different measures of response processing exhibited distinct interactions, which were influenced by the configuration of impulsivity and compulsivity, but also depended on the measure of response processing. Specifically, high compulsivity predicted larger ERN amplitudes in individuals with low impulsivity, whereas high impulsivity had no significant effect on ERN amplitude in individuals with low compulsivity. Furthermore, when both impulsivity and compulsivity were high, no significant increase in ERN amplitude was observed; instead, there was a reduced difference between incorrect and correct trials. No significant differences were found for theta power. While the association between error-related brain activity and transdiagnostic markers or psychopathology may be smaller than generally assumed, considering the interaction between different transdiagnostic markers and their facets can enhance our understanding of the complex associations that arise during the investigation of neural correlates of performance monitoring, specifically the ERN.

Measuring symptoms of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders using a single dimensional self-report scale

BACKGROUND

Obsessions and compulsions are heterogenous but can be classified into obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), hoarding disorder (HD), hair-pulling disorder (HPD), and skin-picking disorder (SPD). OCD is in itself heterogenous, with symptoms clustering around four major symptom dimensions: contamination/cleaning, symmetry/ordering, taboo obsessions, and harm/checking. No single self-report scale captures the full heterogeneity of OCD and related disorders, limiting assessment in clinical practice and research on nosological relations among the disorders.

METHODS

To provide a single self-report scale of OCD and related disorders that respects the heterogeneity of OCD, we expanded the DSM-5-based Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders-Dimensional Scales (OCRD-D) so that is also includes the four major symptom dimensions of OCD. A psychometric evaluation and an exploration of the overarching relations among the dimensions were conducted using an online survey which was completed by 1,454 Spanish adolescents and adults (age span = 15-74 years). Approximately 8 months after the initial survey, 416 participants completed the scale again.

RESULTS

The expanded scale showed excellent internal psychometric properties, adequate test-retest correlations, known groups validity, and correlations in the expected directions with well-being, depression/anxiety symptoms, and satisfaction with life. The higher-order structure of the measure indicated that harm/checking and taboo obsessions formed a common disturbing thoughts factor and that HPD and SPD formed a common body-focused repetitive behaviors factor.

CONCLUSION

The expanded OCRD-D (OCRD-D-E) shows promise as a unified way to assess symptoms across the major symptom dimensions of OCD and related disorders. The measure may be useful in clinical practice (e.g., screening) and research, but more research on construct validity, incremental validity, and clinical utility is needed.

Subjective assessments of research domain criteria constructs in addiction and compulsive disorders: a scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (OCRDs) and disorders due to addictive behaviours (DABs) are prevalent conditions that share behavioural and neurobiological characteristics. The Research Domain Criteria lists a series of constructs whose dysfunctions may be present in both groups of disorders. The present study will describe the research protocol of a scoping review of the literature on self-report scales and questionnaires that tap dysfunctional constructs that underlie OCRDs and DABs.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This protocol outlines a scoping review on self-report tools and questionnaires that assess OCRDs and DABs-related constructs. The scoping review will select sources in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychINFO and Web of Science databases. Inclusion and exclusion criteria will be designed according to the Population, Concept, Context, Types of source framework. Two reviewers will screen independently titles, abstracts and full texts to determine the eligibility of articles. A methodological framework including six stages steps ((1) identifying a research question; (2) identifying relevant studies; (3) study selection; (4) charting the data; (5) collating, summarising and reporting the result) will be used, and the findings will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. Information extracted will be collated, and quantitative results will be presented using descriptive statistics such as percentages, tables, charts and flow diagrams as appropriate.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval for conducting this scoping review is not required, as this study will involve secondary analysis of existing literature. The researchers will disseminate the study results via conference presentations and publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

SCOPING REVIEW PROTOCOL REGISTRATION

DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/UJ7G5.

The role of psychological distress in the relationship between lifestyle and compulsivity: An analysis of independent, bi-national samples

BACKGROUND

Poor mental health is a state of psychological distress that is influenced by lifestyle factors such as sleep, diet, and physical activity. Compulsivity is a transdiagnostic phenotype cutting across a range of mental illnesses including obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance-related and addictive disorders, and is also influenced by lifestyle. Yet, how lifestyle relates to compulsivity is presently unknown, but important to understand to gain insights into individual differences in mental health. We assessed (a) the relationships between compulsivity and diet quality, sleep quality, and physical activity, and (b) whether psychological distress statistically contributes to these relationships.

METHODS

We collected harmonized data on compulsivity, psychological distress, and lifestyle from two independent samples (Australian n = 880 and US n = 829). We used mediation analyses to investigate bidirectional relationships between compulsivity and lifestyle factors, and the role of psychological distress.

RESULTS

Higher compulsivity was significantly related to poorer diet and sleep. Psychological distress statistically mediated the relationship between poorer sleep quality and higher compulsivity, and partially statistically mediated the relationship between poorer diet and higher compulsivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Lifestyle interventions in compulsivity may target psychological distress in the first instance, followed by sleep and diet quality. As psychological distress links aspects of lifestyle and compulsivity, focusing on mitigating and managing distress may offer a useful therapeutic approach to improve physical and mental health. Future research may focus on the specific sleep and diet patterns which may alter compulsivity over time to inform lifestyle targets for prevention and treatment of functionally impairing compulsive behaviors.