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Termination of washing compulsions: a problem of internal reference criteria or 'not just right' experience?
- Source :
-
Journal of anxiety disorders [J Anxiety Disord] 2011 Aug; Vol. 25 (6), pp. 801-5. Date of Electronic Publication: 2011 Apr 07. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Recent research suggests that obsessive-compulsive washers are more likely than individuals without washing compulsions to use conscious, internal reference criteria when deciding when to terminate compulsions (Wahl, Salkovskis, & Cotter, 2008). An alternative view is that they possess tendencies towards non-cognitive, automatic 'not just right' experiences (NJREs) that influence compulsion duration. The current study sought to investigate the latter explanation using valid behavioral tasks. Non-clinical participants (N=133) completed self-report measures, immersed their hands in a dirt mixture, and afterwards were allowed to wash their hands. Additionally, a subset of participants completed an in vivo assessment of NJRE using a pile of clutter. Total number and intensity of NJREs were predictive of hand-washing duration. Additionally, affective response to the clutter was uniquely predictive of hand-washing duration when controlling for pre-wash anxiety. These results suggest that internal reference criteria as well as NJREs may influence compulsive washing, though the former may be a consequence of the latter.<br /> (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1873-7897
- Volume :
- 25
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of anxiety disorders
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 21549560
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2011.03.019