Self-Compassion and Smartphone Addiction Tendency Among College Students: The Chain-Mediating Effect of Self-Concept Clarity and Experiential Avoidance

Smartphone addiction has emerged as a pressing public health issue in recent years, which negatively impacts university students' academic performance, physical and mental health, and social functioning. Therefore, it is crucial to explore the significant factors related to smartphone addiction. While previous research has suggested a potential link between self-compassion and problematic internet or smartphone use, studies specifically examining the relationship between self-compassion and smartphone addiction tendency remain limited. From a positive psychology perspective, this study aims to explore the relationship between self-compassion and smartphone addiction tendency, as well as its internal mechanism. A total of 641 Chinese college students were recruited to complete online questionnaires assessing their self-compassion, self-concept clarity, experiential avoidance, and smartphone addiction tendency. The results show that self-compassion not only directly and negatively predicts smartphone addiction tendency, but also indirectly predicts it through the independent mediating effects of self-concept clarity and experiential avoidance. Additionally, there is a chain-mediating effect of self-concept clarity and experiential avoidance. This study provides a new perspective for the prevention and intervention of smartphone addiction tendency among college students.

Predictors of polyregulation and its effectiveness following exposure to One's most personally distressing intrusive thought

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Using multiple emotion regulation strategies in response to a single stressor-known as polyregulation-is an understudied but common event. The role of polyregulation in psychological disorders characterized by repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is unexplored, despite well-documented difficulties in emotion regulation and strong urges to avoid and escape one's intrusive thoughts in RNT.

METHODS

Participants (N = 60) either had clinical levels of RNT (n = 15 with worries, n = 14 with ruminations, n = 16 with obsessions) or non-clinical levels of RNT (n = 15) and were exposed to their most personally distressing intrusive thought during an in-lab task. Proportional odds logistic regressions were used to test if RNT group and situation-level factors predicted greater polyregulation following the thought exposure. Multilevel regressions were used to test the short-term effectiveness of polyregulation on subjective distress and psychophysiological responding (heart rate, skin conductance).

RESULTS

Ninety percent of participants reported using two or more strategies following intrusive thought exposure. Extent of polyregulation was not significantly predicted by RNT group, most situation-level factors, or short-term regulatory effectiveness. Endorsing a greater need to control one's intrusive thought did, however, predict use of more strategies.

LIMITATIONS

This is a secondary analysis in a small sample.

CONCLUSION

Given treatments for psychological disorders characterized by RNT attempt to disrupt the connection between a person's urge to control their distressing thoughts and efforts to escape or avoid those thoughts, continued investigation into the role of polyregulation in intrusive thinking may guide clinical intervention.

Evaluation of the Relationship Between Disease Severity and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation, Impulsivity, and Quality of Life in Untreated Patients Diagnosed With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

OBJECTIVE

Emotion regulation is an important skill to cultivate in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) for helping with the positive prognosis of their disease. Patients with OCD exhibit higher rates of impulsivity compared to healthy volunteers. According to previous studies, there is significant impairment in the quality of life in OCD. Despite their importance, no study has yet been conducted on the interrelation of these clinical parameters in OCD patients. We investigated the relationship between disease severity, emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and quality of life in untreated OCD patients.

METHODS

This study included 40 untreated outpatients with a diagnosis of OCD. We applied the following form and scales: Sociodemographic and clinical data form, the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale Short Form, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Short Form.

RESULTS

We found a positive relationship (p<0.001) between emotional dysregulation and impulsivity in OCD patients. A positive relationship (p=0.003) was identified between disease severity and emotional dysregulation, while an inverse relationship (p<0.001) was observed between disease severity and quality of life-psychological health. Increased impulsivity and emotional dysregulation were also associated with a deterioration in quality of life.

CONCLUSION

There is a significant positive relationship between emotional dysregulation and impulsivity in OCD patients. These clinical parameters may serve as important targets for treatment approaches in OCD patients and thus should be considered in the future work.

Self-Compassion Across Anxiety and Mood Disorders: Implications for Treatment

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review summarizes recent studies examining average self-compassion scores in adults with symptoms of anxiety and mood disorders. We compare these findings with our own data to help establish norms for the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) and to explore treatment implications for patients with these disorders.

RECENT FINDINGS

Several studies have demonstrated that adults with symptoms of anxiety and mood disorders have lower self-compassion scores compared to control groups, though many of these studies have established findings based on self-reported symptoms. Our study, involving patients at a large academic medical center with diagnoses confirmed on clinical interview, aligns with these overall findings. This reinforces the conclusion that anxiety and mood disorders are associated with lower self-compassion scores. Adults with anxiety and mood disorders demonstrate lower self-compassion scores than control groups. Incorporating self-compassion interventions into treatment may reduce symptoms and improve outcomes for these individuals.

Reducing emotion dysregulation online in nonclinical population with compassion focused therapy and emotional competencies program: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

The present randomized controlled study aimed to evaluate the effects of two interventions on emotional dysregulation as a primary outcome and on depression, anxiety, stress, well-being, self-compassion and emotional competencies as secondary outcomes. Finally, the mediating role of emotional dysregulation as a core process in the effect of interventions on anxiety-depressive and stress symptoms was evaluated.

METHODS

One hundred and seventy-nine individuals aged 18-68 years (M = 39, SD = 12.4; 83.9% females) with emotion regulation difficulties were randomly assigned to one of the three 12-weeks online programs: Compassion Focused Program (CFP), an Emotional Competencies Program (ECP) or a Waitlist control condition (WL). Participants completed pre-, post- and 3 months follow-up measures of each outcome. Mixed effect linear models compared groups on primary and secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

Results showed that (1) perceived credibility and expectancy and satisfaction did not differ between the two interventions, (2) both interventions reduced emotion regulation difficulty, depression, anxiety and stress symptoms, and enhanced well-being, self-compassion, and emotional competencies; (3) ECP was more effective to enhance well-being than CFP; (4) CFP was more effective to enhance emotional competencies than ECP, and (5) emotion regulation difficulty mediated the effect of the interventions on depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings offer preliminary support for the usefulness of online CFP and ECP to reduce emotion dysregulation, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress and to increase well-being, self-compassion and emotional competencies. These results are discussed regarding clinical practice and the transdiagnostic role of emotional dysregulation.

Self-Compassion and Psychological Flourishing Among College Students: The Mediating Role of Hope and the Moderating Role of Emotion Regulation

College students face pressure from various aspects such as academics, employment, and interpersonal relationships, and their mental health is receiving increasing attention. This study used a cross-sectional, descriptive correlational design to recruit 842 college students to explore the relationship between self-compassion and psychological flourishing and the underlying psychological mechanisms. With gender added as a control variable, the results showed the following: (1) self-compassion had a positive predictive effect on psychological flourishing in college students; (2) hope partially mediated the predictive effect of self-compassion on psychological flourishing in college students; (3) the first half path of the mediation model was moderated by emotion regulation. In conclusion, this study revealed the underlying mechanisms of the association between self-compassion and psychological flourishing. The mechanisms of increasing college students' psychological flourishing are the positive impact of hope on the relationship of self-compassion and psychological flourishing, and emotional regulation enhancing the impact of hope. These findings not only enrich the theoretical framework of the relationship between self-compassion and psychological flourishing but also provide practical guidance for future applications of mindfulness and compassion skills to promote physical and mental health. Future research could further explore the effectiveness of self-compassion interventions in different populations, and how cultivating mindfulness and compassion skills can increase individuals' levels of self-compassion, thereby promoting mental health and overall well-being.

Trait self-compassion enhances activation in the medial prefrontal cortex during fear extinction: An fNIRS study

Fear acquisition and fear extinction are the most widely used experimental models to study anxiety related disorders, with the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) playing an important role in this process. Previous research suggests that trait self-compassion is associated with lower anxiety, but the neural mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. Women generally exhibit lower self-compassion than men, making them more vulnerable to fear and anxiety. In this study, female participants were divided into two groups - high and low trait self-compassion, based on their scores on the Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form (SCS-SF). Both groups completed fear acquisition and fear extinction tasks, during which conditioned responses (CRs) were measured using self-reported unconditioned stimulus (US) expectancy ratings, skin conductance response (SCR), and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The results showed that in the fear acquisition phase, all participants successfully acquired fear, showing greater responses to threat stimuli than safety stimuli. However, participants with high trait self-compassion exhibited lower SCR than those with low trait self-compassion. In the fear extinction phase, compared to individuals with low trait self-compassion, individuals with high trait self-compassion exhibited more effective fear extinction learning, characterized by lower US expectancy ratings, lower SCR, and higher mPFC activation. Moreover, trait self-compassion was significantly correlated with the behavioral extinction ability and the mPFC activation during the late phase of fear extinction, and behavioral extinction ability was significantly correlated with mPFC activation. The findings of this study suggest individuals with high trait self-compassion have better physiological flexibility during fear acquisition and fear extinction, and may through enhancing mPFC activation to facilitate fear extinction. The results provide new insights into the pathological mechanisms of anxiety.

An Investigation of the Mediating Roles of Emotion Regulation Difficulties, Distress Tolerance, Self-Compassion, and Self-Disgust in the Association Between Childhood Trauma and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury

OBJECTIVE

Childhood maltreatment has been associated as a risk factor with the development of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), with difficulty in emotion regulation explaining the association. However, little is known about the potential factors that make some individuals with maltreatment history more vulnerable to difficulties in emotion regulation and, in turn, engage in NSSI. The current study aimed to examine the roles of distress tolerance, self-compassion, and self-disgust in the association between childhood maltreatment types and emotion regulation difficulty, which was expected to predict NSSI.

METHOD

The sample included 397 university students between the ages of 18 and 30. Participants completed self-report scales assessing childhood maltreatment, emotion regulation difficulty, distress tolerance, self-compassion, self-disgust, and NSSI using the paper-pencil and online methods. The mediation model suggested for the association between childhood maltreatment types and NSSI was tested using path analysis.

RESULTS

Low distress tolerance, low self-compassion, high self-disgust, and resulting high emotion regulation difficulty mediated the indirect effect of emotional neglect on NSSI.

CONCLUSION

The current study sheds light on various factors in the development and maintenance of NSSI and reveals three developmental pathways from emotional neglect in childhood to engaging in NSSI.HIGHLIGHTSEmotional neglect may be a distal risk factor for nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI).Low distress tolerance and self-compassion and high self-disgust may increase the risk of NSSI.Emotion regulation difficulty may make people engage in NSSI to regulate emotions.

A preliminary investigation of the mediating roles of self-compassion and emotion dysregulation in the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and obsessive-compulsive behaviors

INTRODUCTION

Recent research has highlighted an association between maladaptive perfectionism and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are not well understood. The primary aim of this preliminary study was to investigate whether self-compassion and emotion dysregulation independently mediated this relationship. The secondary aim was to determine whether serial mediation existed between these factors. Whether these relations held for overall obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms, versus distinct dimensions of OCD, was also of interest.

METHOD

Three hundred and ninety-two university students (Mage  = 21.81, SD = 8.01), predominantly female (79.18%), participated in an online questionnaire that included a dimensional measure of OCD. Scales assessing maladaptive perfectionism, self-compassion, emotion dysregulation, and negative emotion states were also included.

RESULTS

Greater maladaptive perfectionism was related to more severe OCD. Emotion dysregulation, but not self-compassion, independently mediated this relationship. A serial mediation relationship was found, in that greater maladaptive perfectionism was associated with lower self-compassion, which was linked to greater emotion dysregulation, and in turn related to more severe OC behaviors. In addition, distinct patterns emerged for separate OC dimensions.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight emotion regulation and self-compassion as potential targets for OCD prevention, especially in individuals with symptoms in the symmetry and unacceptable thoughts dimensions.

Altered brain functional network topology in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A comparison of patients with varying severity of depressive symptoms and the impact on psychosocial functioning

BACKGROUND

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with psychosocial impairment, which can be exacerbated by depressive symptoms. In this study, we employed graph theory analysis to investigate the association among neuroimaging, clinical features, and psychosocial functioning in OCD patients, with a specific focus on the differential impact of depressive symptoms.

METHODS

216 OCD patients were divided into two subgroups based on depressive symptoms. Resting-state functional MRI data were acquired from a subset of 106 OCD patients along with 77 matched healthy controls (HCs). We analyzed the topological characteristics of the entire brain and the cognition-related subnetworks and performed Pearson correlation analyses to further explore the relationship with psychosocial functioning.

RESULTS

OCD patients with more severe depressive symptoms exhibited greater impairment across all dimensions of psychosocial functioning. Graph theory analysis revealed more pronounced reductions in network efficiency within the entire brain, the default mode network (DMN), and the cingulo-opercular network (CON) among patients with non or mild depressive symptoms. Lower nodal efficiency and degree centrality of the right superior temporal gyrus (STG) were found in OCD patients and these variables were positively correlated with psychosocial functioning impairment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that the presence of depressive symptoms generally exacerbated psychosocial functioning impairment in OCD patients. Abnormalities in the functional integration of the entire brain, the DMN, and the CON in OCD patients may comprise the basis of cognitive deficits, while dysfunction of the right STG may affect the psychosocial functioning through its role in emotion, intention perception, and insight.

Emotion dysregulation and social communication problems but not ToM properties may predict obsessive-compulsive disorder symptom severity

OBJECTIVE

Studies have shown that theory of mind, emotion regulation and pragmatic abilities are negatively affected in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We aimed to investigate theory of mind (ToM) abilities, social responsiveness, pragmatic language, and emotion regulation skills in children with OCD and to compare them to healthy controls.

METHODS

This study was designed as a single-center, cross-sectional, case-control study. ToM abilities were evaluated via "Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test" (RMET), "Faces Test", "Faux-Pas Test", "Comprehension Test" and "Unexpected Outcomes Test". Social responsiveness, pragmatic language and emotion regulation were evaluated by Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), Children's Communication Checklist- Second Edition (CCC-2), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS). Within the study period, we enrolled 85 adolescents (42 with OCD and 43 controls).

RESULTS

The OCD group performed significantly lower than healthy controls in the Faux Pass and Comprehension tests (p = 0.003 for both). We found a statistically significant difference between groups in terms of the goal, strategy, non-acceptance subscales of the DERS (p < 0.001, p = 0.006, p = 0.008, respectively) as well as the total DERS score (p < 0.001). CY-BOCS total scores correlated significantly and negatively with Comprehension, Faux Pas and Unexpected Outcomes tests, and positively with CCC total, SRS total and DERS total scores. In regression analysis the DERS, SRS and CCC tests emerged as significant predictors of CY-BOCS total score.

CONCLUSION

Addressing ToM, pragmatic, and ER difficulties when planning the treatment of young people with OCD may contribute to positive outcomes.

Relationship between Cognitive Strategies of Emotion Regulation and Dimensions of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptomatology in Adolescents

Cognitive emotion regulation refers to the management of one's emotions through cognitive strategies. Studies have found that individuals with obsessive-compulsive symptoms utilize emotion regulation strategies differently compared to those without these symptoms. This study aims to investigate the relationship between cognitive strategies for emotion regulation and specific dimensions of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in adolescents. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 307 adolescents between 12 and 18 years old. Associations between sociodemographic variables, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and emotion regulation strategies were examined using regression and network analyses. Regression results indicated that emotion regulation strategies and gender accounted for 28.2% of the variation in overall obsessive-compulsive symptoms (p < 0.001) and that emotion regulation explained most variance in the symptom dimension of obsessing. Network analysis showed that self-blame and catastrophizing were uniquely linked to overall obsessive-compulsive symptoms, while several strategies were uniquely linked to specific symptom dimensions. The adaptive strategy that demonstrated the strongest association with obsessive-compulsive symptoms was refocus on planning, while maladaptive strategies included catastrophizing, self-blame, and rumination. In conclusion, the results support the relationship between cognitive strategies for emotion regulation and dimensions of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in adolescents, though these relations appear complex and require further investigation. Addressing emotion regulation in the prevention of obsessive-compulsive symptoms may be warranted, but prospective studies are needed.

The Effect of Daily Meditative Practices Based on Mindfulness and Self-Compassion on Emotional Distress under Stressful Conditions: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Intervention programs based on self-compassion have demonstrated their efficacy both in reducing psychological distress and increasing well-being. The goal of this study was to test the efficacy of an online intervention to increase mindfulness and self-compassion levels in a non-clinical sample in a highly stressful context: the ten weeks of lockdown imposed in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The intervention sessions consisted of thirty-minute guided meditations followed by thirty minutes of inquiry. Sixty-one participants completed two thirds of the sessions or more, and 65 individuals participated in a waiting-list (WL) control group. Self-compassion, anxiety, depression and stress levels were assessed. The analysis of pre-post results suggests that the interventions increased self-compassion levels and decreased anxiety, depression and stress levels, whereas the WL group did not show any significant changes. The emotional changes in the intervention group were associated with the increase in self-compassion. However, at follow-up, the scores of emotional distress variables returned to the initial pre-intervention scores. These data can be interpreted in line with previous results that have shown the efficacy of self-compassion-based intervention programs. Given that this efficacy was not maintained at follow-up, data are discussed according to the pervasive role of a highly stressful context and-as described in other studies-the need for regular practice to maintain the benefits obtained.

Efficacy and fMRI-based response predictors to mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in obsessive-compulsive disorder: Study protocol for a randomised clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Around 40-50% of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) suffer from obsessions and compulsions after receiving first-line treatments. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has been proposed as a reasonable augmentation strategy for OCD. MBCT trains to decentre from distressful thoughts and emotions by focusing on them voluntarily and with consciousness. This practice develops alternative ways to deal with obsessions, which could increase non-reactivity behaviours and, in turn, reduce compulsions. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of MBCT to improve OCD symptoms. Secondly, it pursues to investigate which socio-demographic, clinical, and neurobiological characteristics mediate or moderate the MBCT response; and identify potential biomarkers of positive/negative response.

METHODS

This study is a randomised clinical trial (RCT) of 60 OCD patients who do not respond to first-line treatments. Participants will be randomised to either an MBCT program or treatment as usual. The MBCT group will undergo 10 weekly sessions of 120min. Principal outcome: change in OCD severity symptoms using clinician and self-reported measures. Also, participants will undergo a comprehensive evaluation assessing comorbid clinical variables, neuropsychological functioning and thought content. Finally, a comprehensive neuroimaging protocol using structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging will be acquired in a 3T scanner. All data will be obtained at baseline and post-intervention.

DISCUSSION

This study will assess the efficacy of mindfulness in OCD patients who do not achieve clinical recovery after usual treatment. It is the first RCT in this subject examining clinical, neuropsychological and neuroimaging variables to examine the neural patterns associated with the MBCT response.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

NCT03128749.

The bidirectional effects of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and difficulties in emotion regulation in Chinese adults during the COVID-19 pandemic-a dynamic structural equation model

Background

With the accumulation of negative emotions brought by COVID-19-related dysfunctional beliefs, individuals adopted obsessive–compulsive (OC) symptoms (e.g., over-checking the wearing of masks) and formed difficulties in emotion regulation (DER). This study focused on the temporal dynamics of the bidirectional relation between OC symptoms and DER, which had a devastating effect on the individual's mental health. As an extension, we further explored whether OC and DER and their relationship affect sleep problems.

Methods

In February 2020, a 14-day (twice a day, of 28 measurement intervals) online questionnaire survey was conducted on 122 Chinese adults (aged 18–55 years; 63 females). Subsequently, this research applied a dynamic structural equation model with a cross-lagged relationship and a time series. Health anxiety, anxiety, and depression were controlled as covariates.

Results

Both OC symptoms and DER had a significant autoregressive and cross-lagged effect. Comparatively speaking, DER was a stronger predictor of OC symptoms than OC’s prediction of DER. Moreover, both higher levels of OC symptoms and DER were related to the severity of sleep problems.

Conclusions

More guidance on intervening in OC symptoms and identifying emotion regulation should be added to reduce the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public mental health.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40359-022-00841-5.

Training Willpower: Reducing Costs and Valuing Effort

The integrative model of effortful control presented in a previous article aimed to specify the neurophysiological bases of mental effort. This model assumes that effort reflects three different inter-related aspects of the same adaptive function. First, a mechanism anchored in the salience network that makes decisions about the effort that should be engaged in the current task in view of costs and benefits associated with the achievement of the task goal. Second, a top-down control signal generated by the mechanism of effort that modulates neuronal activity in brain regions involved in the current task to filter pertinent information. Third, a feeling that emerges in awareness during effortful tasks and reflects the costs associated with goal-directed behavior. The aim of the present article is to complete this model by proposing that the capacity to exert effortful control can be improved through training programs. Two main questions relative to this possible strengthening of willpower are addressed in this paper. The first question concerns the existence of empirical evidence that supports gains in effortful control capacity through training. We conducted a review of 63 meta-analyses that shows training programs are effective in improving performance in effortful tasks tapping executive functions and/or self-control with a small to large effect size. Moreover, physical and mindfulness exercises could be two promising training methods that would deserve to be included in training programs aiming to strengthen willpower. The second question concerns the neural mechanisms that could explain these gains in effortful control capacity. Two plausible brain mechanisms are proposed: (1) a decrease in effort costs combined with a greater efficiency of brain regions involved in the task and (2) an increase in the value of effort through operant conditioning in the context of high effort and high reward. The first mechanism supports the hypothesis of a strengthening of the capacity to exert effortful control whereas the second mechanism supports the hypothesis of an increase in the motivation to exert this control. In the last part of the article, we made several recommendations to improve the effectiveness of interventional studies aiming to train this adaptive function."Keep the faculty of effort alive in you by a little gratuitous exercise every day."James (1918, p. 127).

Empathy, compassion, and theory of mind in obsessive-compulsive disorder

OBJECTIVES

Individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often suffer from impairments in social functioning. This study investigates differences in empathy, compassion, and Theory of Mind (ToM) in individuals with OCD as a possible cause for social functioning deficits.

DESIGN

Sixty-four individuals diagnosed with OCD and 62 healthy individuals completed a naturalistic behavioural task (EmpaToM) and a self-report measure (Interpersonal Reactivity Index, IRI).

METHODS

Three preregistered repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs).

RESULTS

People with OCD exhibited higher empathy levels - namely increased sharing of others' suffering - in the EmpaToM task and reported more distress (IRI) compared with healthy individuals. Furthermore, no differences in compassion (EmpaToM) between both groups emerged, although people with OCD reported more concern for others (IRI) compared with healthy individuals. Concerning the ToM, no group differences were detected, neither in the behavioural task, nor self-report.

CONCLUSION

By investigating OCD with diverse scientific practices we shed light on the higher levels of empathy exhibited by individuals with OCD, which are relevant for clinical practice and our understanding of OCD symptomatology.

PRACTITIONER POINTS

●People with obsessive-compulsive disorder show higher levels of empathy, that is the increased sharing of others' suffering, compared with healthy individuals in both a traditional self-report and a naturalistic task. ●Regarding compassion, that is caring for others, their self-reported compassion was higher in people with OCD. ●In Theory of Mind, that is cognitively understanding the situation of another person, no differences have been found neither at self-report nor in a naturalistic task compared with healthy individuals. ●Independent of traditional interventions, it could prove useful to improve emotion regulation skills so people with OCD learn to cope with empathic distress. Furthermore, it might strengthen the treatment gains and lower dropout rates if the social mind and consequently social relationships become a topic in the treatment and prevention of OCD.

Mediating Mechanisms of Perfectionism: Clinical Comorbidity of OCD and ED

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and eating disorders (ED) share common causal factors and often represent similar entities. Studies on obsessive-compulsive disorders and eating disorders reveal a significant correlation between maladaptive perfectionism. The objective of this study is to evaluate the predictive variables of perfectionism in patients diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and OCD using a structural equation model (SEM). The sample consisted of 187 participants (60.9% women, 39.1% men) with a mean age of 26.68 (SD = 10.97). The findings reveal that the model is the same in all the disorders evaluated, achieving an adequate fit: χ2 = 7.95 (p = 0.000), RMSEA = 0.087 (95% confidence interval: 0.00 to 0.02), CFI = 0.991, TLI = 0.951 and with an overall predictive capacity of around 30% (CD = 0.318). It is recommended that future studies address the subtypes of disorders evaluated using longitudinal designs.

Mechanisms and Effectiveness of Imagery Strategies in Reducing Disgust in Contamination-Related Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: Comparing Imagery Rescripting, Imagery Self-compassion and Mood-Focused Imagery

Background

Strong feelings of disgust and anxiety are maintaining factors in contamination-related obsessive–compulsive disorder (C-OCD). To this day there are not many studies that investigated strategies for changing pathological disgust. In a previous study, it was shown that imagery rescripting could successfully change disgust. However, whether imagery rescripting or more general imagery processing, helps to reduce pathological disgust, remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate how successful imagery rescripting is in comparison to imagery self-compassion and a passive positive imagery condition in reducing disgust.

Methods

For this, the three strategies were compared to each other on 2 days (within-subject) in a laboratory experiment. The study included 24 subjects with diagnosed C-OCD, and 24 matched, healthy controls (between-subject).

Results

The results show that all three strategies changed disgust, they do not differ from each other and that different traits appear to influence the strategies’ success or failure. The theoretically derived underlying mechanisms of the strategies were found in an elaborate content analysis.

Conclusions

The present study provides first indications that imagery in general can help to change pathological disgust experience.

The effect of childhood maltreatment on suicidal ideation through cognitive emotion regulation strategies and specific obsessive-compulsive symptoms in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Childhood maltreatment is thought to be associated with suicidality in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Although the underlying mechanism of this relationship is not clear, cognitive emotion regulation strategies (CERSs) and the specific OC symptoms including unacceptable obsessional thoughts (UOTs) and responsibility for harm (RFH) may underlie this link. Accordingly, the study aimed to assess the effect of childhood maltreatment on suicidal ideation through UOTs, RFH and adaptive and maladaptive CERSs in OCD patients. Three hundred patients meeting a DSM-5 diagnosis of OCD were selected and completed the scales measuring childhood maltreatment, OCD, suicidality and depressive symptoms. After controlling for depressive symptoms and OCD severity, childhood maltreatment was shown to affect suicidal ideation directly. Also, the indirect effect of childhood maltreatment on suicidal ideation was mediated by adaptive CERSs, UOTs and RFH. The findings show that OCD patients with a history of childhood maltreatment, less use of adaptive CERSs and the experiences of UOTs and RFH should be carefully considered regarding suicidal risk.

Compassion-Focused Group Therapy for Treatment-Resistant OCD: Initial Evaluation Using a Multiple Baseline Design

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating mental health disorder that can easily become a treatment-resistant condition. Although effective therapies exist, only about half of the patients seem to benefit from them when we consider treatment refusal, dropout rates, and residual symptoms. Thus, providing effective augmentation to standard therapies could improve existing treatments. Group compassion-focused interventions have shown promise for reducing depression, anxiety, and avoidance related to various clinical problems, but this approach has never been evaluated for OCD individuals. However, cultivating compassion for self and others seems crucial for OCD patients, given the accumulating research suggesting that fear of guilt, along with isolation and self-criticism, can strongly contribute to the development and maintenance of OCD. The primary aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the acceptability, tolerability, and effectiveness of an 8-week group compassion-focused intervention for reducing OCD symptoms, depression, fear of guilt and self-criticism, and increasing common humanity and compassionate self-reassuring skills in treatment-resistant OCD patients. Using a multiple baseline experimental design, the intervention was evaluated in a sample of OCD patients (N = 8) who had completed at least 6 months of CBT treatment for OCD, but who continued to suffer from significant symptoms. Participants were randomized to different baseline assessment lengths; they then received 8 weekly, 120-min group sessions of compassion-focused therapy for OCD (CFT-OCD), and then were tested again at post-treatment and at 1 month follow up. Despite the adverse external circumstances (post-treatment and follow-up data collection were carried out, respectively, at the beginning and in the middle of the Italian lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic), by the end of treatment, all participants demonstrated reliable decreases in OCD symptoms, and these improvements were maintained at 4-week follow-up for seven of eight participants. The intervention was also associated with improvements in fear of guilt, self-criticism, and self-reassurance, but less consistent improvements in depression and common humanity. Participants reported high levels of acceptability of and satisfaction with the intervention. Results suggest that the intervention may be beneficial as either a stand-alone treatment or as an augmentation to other treatments.