Differences and similarities between obsessive and ruminative thoughts in obsessive-compulsive and depressed patients: a comparative study.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Differences and similarities between obsessive and ruminative thoughts in obsessive-compulsive and depressed patients: a comparative study.

AU - Wahl, Karina

AU - Schönfeld, Sabine

AU - Hissbach, Johanna

AU - Küsel, Sebastian

AU - Zurowski, Bartosz

AU - Moritz, Steffen

AU - Hohagen, Fritz

AU - Kordon, Andreas

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - Repetitive, intrusive cognitive phenomena are central both to obsessive-compulsive patients - typically as obsessive thoughts - and to depressed patients - typically as ruminative thoughts. The objective of the present study is to compare obsessive and ruminative thoughts in non-depressed obsessive-compulsive and depressed patients. Thirty-four patients diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder and 34 patients diagnosed with major depression disorder were asked to identify both a personally relevant obsessive and a personally relevant ruminative thought and to subsequently evaluate these thoughts on a modified version of the Cognitive Intrusions Questionnaire (CIQ) developed by Freeston, Ladouceur, Thibodeau, and Gagnon (1991). The CIQ assesses general descriptors, emotional reactions, appraisal and coping strategies on a nine-point Likert scale. A mixed-model ANOVA demonstrated that obsessive and ruminative thoughts are distinct cognitive processes, clearly distinguishable in form, appraisal and temporal orientation across disorders. In obsessive-compulsive patients, ruminative thoughts were more common and more emotionally distressing than predicted. In depressed patients, obsessive thoughts occurred infrequently and were not associated with high negative emotions. Clarifying similarities and differences between ruminative and obsessive thoughts and understanding their interaction might ultimately help to expand on the role of cognitive vulnerability factors in obsessive-compulsive and major depression disorder.

AB - Repetitive, intrusive cognitive phenomena are central both to obsessive-compulsive patients - typically as obsessive thoughts - and to depressed patients - typically as ruminative thoughts. The objective of the present study is to compare obsessive and ruminative thoughts in non-depressed obsessive-compulsive and depressed patients. Thirty-four patients diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder and 34 patients diagnosed with major depression disorder were asked to identify both a personally relevant obsessive and a personally relevant ruminative thought and to subsequently evaluate these thoughts on a modified version of the Cognitive Intrusions Questionnaire (CIQ) developed by Freeston, Ladouceur, Thibodeau, and Gagnon (1991). The CIQ assesses general descriptors, emotional reactions, appraisal and coping strategies on a nine-point Likert scale. A mixed-model ANOVA demonstrated that obsessive and ruminative thoughts are distinct cognitive processes, clearly distinguishable in form, appraisal and temporal orientation across disorders. In obsessive-compulsive patients, ruminative thoughts were more common and more emotionally distressing than predicted. In depressed patients, obsessive thoughts occurred infrequently and were not associated with high negative emotions. Clarifying similarities and differences between ruminative and obsessive thoughts and understanding their interaction might ultimately help to expand on the role of cognitive vulnerability factors in obsessive-compulsive and major depression disorder.

KW - Adult

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Female

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Psychiatric Status Rating Scales

KW - Questionnaires

KW - Emotions

KW - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

KW - Cognition/physiology

KW - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder/psychology

KW - Depressive Disorder/psychology

KW - Depressive Disorder, Major/psychology

KW - Obsessive Behavior/psychology

KW - Adult

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Female

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Psychiatric Status Rating Scales

KW - Questionnaires

KW - Emotions

KW - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

KW - Cognition/physiology

KW - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder/psychology

KW - Depressive Disorder/psychology

KW - Depressive Disorder, Major/psychology

KW - Obsessive Behavior/psychology

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

VL - 42

SP - 454

EP - 461

JO - J BEHAV THER EXP PSY

JF - J BEHAV THER EXP PSY

SN - 0005-7916

IS - 4

M1 - 4

ER -