Obsessive themes, evaluative appraisals, and thought control strategiesTesting the autogenous-reactive model of obsessions

Resumen

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is considered a heterogeneous condition involving obsessional themes and associated control strategies. This ex post facto study was designed to examine the usefulness of the autogenous-reactive model of obsessions on the light of the cognitive approaches proposing that OCD arises from a particular set of dysfunctional beliefs. Three hundred thirty non-clinical adults completed a set of questionnaires assessing obsessional intrusions and related evaluative appraisals, beliefs, and control strategies, as well as OCD and depressive symptoms, anxiety, and worry proneness. The autogenous obsessions were assessed as being more unpleasant and more unacceptable, causing more guilt feelings and producing a greater need to be controlled than the reactive obsessions. The reactive obsessions were appraised as more uncontrollable and more likely to be real. The subjects having autogenous obsessions were more depressed than those dysplaying reactive obsessions. Finally, the autogenous obsessions showed more relationships with several dysfunctional beliefs and thought control strategies than the reactive obsessions.