Investigation of an attentional bias for fear-related material in obsessive-compulsive checkers.

Full Abstract

Prior studies on attentional biases in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have yielded conflicting results. Using a new methodology based on a spatial cueing paradigm, it was investigated whether OCD checkers display heightened vigilance for concern-related material or difficulties disengaging from such stimuli. Twenty-eight OCD patients, 21 of whom were checkers, were compared to 27 controls. In the spatial cueing paradigm task, patients and controls responded to a visual target at one out of two possible locations, which was preceded by a verbal cue word presented at the same or at the opposite location of the target. Cue words were either checking-relevant (e.g., doubt), neutral (e.g., box), or paranoia-related (e.g., spy). No evidence for an attentional bias in OCD checkers was found. This study is in accordance with previous studies, which were unable to detect attentional biases in OCD patients.

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Author information

Author/s: Moritz, Steffen (S); von Mühlenen, Adrian (A);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. moritz(-atsign-)uke.uni-hamburg.de

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article

Journal: Depression and anxiety (Depress Anxiety), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-; vol 25 (issue 3) : pp 225-9

Dates: Created 2008/04/02; Completed 2008/06/25;

PMID: 17405162, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Anxiety - psychology
Arousal - physiology
Attention - physiology
Bias (Epidemiology)
Control Groups
Cues
Fear - physiology; psychology
Female
Humans

Male
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - diagnosis; psychology
Personality Inventory
Photic Stimulation
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychomotor Performance - physiology
Reaction Time - physiology
Space Perception - physiology
Task Performance and Analysis
Verbal Behavior - physiology

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