Intrusive thoughts in subclinical obsessives: contents, valorative appraisals, and thought-control strategies

Abstract

Recent cognitive theories of obsessions consider that they differ from unwanted intrusive thoughts (IT) in terms of frequency of ocurrence, valorative appraisals, and thought control strategies. This paper examines that assumption comparing the responses provided by normal (N= 239) and subclinical (N=28) subjects to the following instruments: Revised Obsessional Intrusions Inventory (ROII), Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (MOCI), BDI, and STAIS. Significant relationships were obtained among all the instruments, and the association between ROII and MOCI was maintained when depression scores were partialled out. Subclinically obsessive scored higher than normals on depressive, anxious and obsessional symptoms, reported more unwanted ITs, and rated their most upsetting IT as significantly more frequent. Moreover, showed higher negative valorative appraisal ratings and displayed most thought control strategies than normal subjects.