Relationships between thought-action fusion, thought suppression and obsessive-compulsive symptoms: a structural equation modeling approach.

Full Abstract

Research has shown that there are strong similarities in content between the obsessions and compulsions that characterize obsessive-compulsive disorder and nonclinical obsessions and compulsions. However, clinical and nonclinical obsessions and compulsions do differ with respect to characteristics like frequency, intensity, discomfort and elicited resistance. Two separate concepts have been invoked to explain how normal obsessions and compulsions may develop into clinical phenomena. First, it is suggested that thought-action fusion (TAF) contributes to obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Second, thought suppression may intensify obsessive-compulsive symptoms due to its paradoxical effect on intrusive thoughts. Although both phenomena have been found to contribute to obsessive-compulsive symptoms, possible interactions between these two have never been investigated. The current study explored how TAF and thought suppression interact in the development of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Undergraduate psychology students (N = 173) completed questionnaires pertaining to TAF, thought suppression and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Covariances between the scores on these questionnaires were analyzed by means of structural equation modeling. Results suggest that TAF triggers thought suppression, while thought suppression, in turn, promotes obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Author information

Author/s: Rassin, E (E); Muris, P (P); Schmidt, H (H); Merckelbach, H (H);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Maastricht University, Netherlands. e.rassin(-atsign-)psychology.unimaas.nl

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Behaviour research and therapy (Behav Res Ther), published in ENGLAND. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2000-Sep; vol 38 (issue 9) : pp 889-97

Dates: Created 2000/09/12; Completed 2000/09/12; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 10957823, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00)

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