TY - JOUR
T1 - Developing image sets for inducing obsessive-compulsive checking symptoms
AU - Brooks, Helena
AU - Kichuk, Stephen A.
AU - Adams, Thomas G.
AU - Koller, William N.
AU - Eken, H. Nur
AU - Rance, Mariela
AU - Monahan, Shelby
AU - Wasylink, Suzanne
AU - Kelmendi, Benjamin
AU - Pittenger, Christopher
AU - Gruner, Patricia
AU - Hampson, Michelle
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2018/7
Y1 - 2018/7
N2 - Visual stimuli are often used for obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptom provocation in research studies. We tested the induction of anxiety and OC checking symptoms across different types of checking provocation stimuli in three populations: individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), individuals with checking symptoms but without a diagnosis of OCD, and control individuals with neither checking symptoms nor a clinical diagnosis. One set of provocative images depicted objects that are commonly associated with checking anxiety. Another set (‘enhanced provocative images’) depicted similar objects but also included contextual cues suggesting a specific harmful scenario that could occur. As expected, the enhanced provocative images were more effective at inducing anxiety and OC symptoms than the standard provocative images. Future studies requiring checking symptom provocation should therefore consider incorporating similarly suggestive images. Individuals with clinical OCD reported the greatest provocation in response to these images, followed by those with nonclinical checking, followed by control individuals. Thus, these stimuli are able to provoke OC checking symptoms and anxiety differentially across groups, with the intensity of provocation reflecting diagnostic status. All groups demonstrated a similar qualitative pattern of provocation across images. Finally, in all groups, reported anxiety closely tracked intrusive thoughts and checking urges.
AB - Visual stimuli are often used for obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptom provocation in research studies. We tested the induction of anxiety and OC checking symptoms across different types of checking provocation stimuli in three populations: individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), individuals with checking symptoms but without a diagnosis of OCD, and control individuals with neither checking symptoms nor a clinical diagnosis. One set of provocative images depicted objects that are commonly associated with checking anxiety. Another set (‘enhanced provocative images’) depicted similar objects but also included contextual cues suggesting a specific harmful scenario that could occur. As expected, the enhanced provocative images were more effective at inducing anxiety and OC symptoms than the standard provocative images. Future studies requiring checking symptom provocation should therefore consider incorporating similarly suggestive images. Individuals with clinical OCD reported the greatest provocation in response to these images, followed by those with nonclinical checking, followed by control individuals. Thus, these stimuli are able to provoke OC checking symptoms and anxiety differentially across groups, with the intensity of provocation reflecting diagnostic status. All groups demonstrated a similar qualitative pattern of provocation across images. Finally, in all groups, reported anxiety closely tracked intrusive thoughts and checking urges.
KW - Anxiety [F01.470.132]
KW - Compulsive Behavior [F01-145-527-100]
KW - Obsessive Behavior [F01.145.126.950]
KW - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder [F03-080-600]
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85046742418&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85046742418&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.04.035
DO - 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.04.035
M3 - Article
C2 - 29763844
AN - SCOPUS:85046742418
SN - 0165-1781
VL - 265
SP - 249
EP - 255
JO - Psychiatry Research
JF - Psychiatry Research
ER -