The use of thought control strategies in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Abstract

Some attempts to control thoughts may contribute to the problem of intrusions. In the present study the Thought Control Questionnaire (TCQ; Wells & Davies, 1994) was administered to a clinical sample of eighty-two treatment completers with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) before and after treatment, as well as to a non-clinical control sample and a clinical control sample consisting of individuals with a diagnosis within the psychotic spectrum. The use of thought control strategies among individuals with OCD and the relationship between the TCQ and obsessive-compulsive symptoms and metacognitive beliefs were investigated. The results indicated that individuals with OCD used more punishment-based strategies than both clinical and non-clinical controls, and that the use of punishment decreases following successful treatment for OCD. The results were mixed concerning the role of worry and distraction as thought control strategies. The results also showed that the use of mala daptive thought control strategies were associated with meta cognitive beliefs and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The results are discussed in relation to the current literature on thought control strategies and the meta cognitive model of OCD.