Besharat M A, Atari M, Mirjalili R S. Transdiagnostic Processes in Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Worry, Cognitive Avoidance, Intolerance of Uncertainty, and Metacognitive Beliefs. PCP 2019; 7 (4) :281-290
URL:
http://jpcp.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-645-en.html
1- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. , besharat@ut.ac.ir
2- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (4653 Views)
Objective: The present study aimed at examining worry, cognitive avoidance, intolerance of uncertainty, and metacognitive beliefs, as transdiagnostic factors, in clinical samples with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Methods: In total, 200 patients (66 with GAD, 74 with OCD, and 60 with comorbid GAD and OCD) were selected to participate in this study using the purposeful sampling method. The participants completed the Penn State worry questionnaire, cognitive avoidance questionnaire, intolerance of uncertainty scale, and metacognitive beliefs questionnaire.
Results: The findings showed no significant difference between patients with GAD and OCD in total scores of these constructs; however, the patients with comorbidity of GAD and OCD showed significantly higher scores in these measures (P<0.01) compared with the patients with GAD or OCD.
Conclusion: These cognitive factors are possible transdiagnostic factors shared between GAD and OCD. Moreover, they considerably increase when GAD and OCD co-occur.
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● Four transdiagnostic cognitive factors including worry, cognitive avoidance, intolerance of uncertainty, and metacognitive beliefs were investigated in GAD and/or OCD patients.
● Patients with both GAD and OCD showed significantly higher scores in all transdiagnostic factors compared to the patients with GAD or OCD only.
● Transdiagnostic cognitive factors can be used in transdignostic approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders.
Plain Language Summary
Mental disorders sometimes include several symptoms which can be caused by different clinical conditions. One of these symptoms is anxiety which can cause generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). These two disorders are common in worry, cognitive avoidance, intolerance of uncertainty and metacognitive beliefs. These components are known as transdiagnostic factors. The present study examined these transdiagnostic factors in a sample of patients with GAD and OCD. Findings showed that when GAD and OCD are present separately, their symptoms seem similar in terms of transdiagnostic cognitive factors; however, when they both are present as comorbid disorders, these factors seems more prevalent and severe. It can be concluded that transdiagnostic factors have a potential for developing comorbidity which requires more attention at prevention phase in clinical settings.
Type of Study:
Research |
Subject:
Psychiatry Received: 2019/03/21 | Accepted: 2019/08/18 | Published: 2019/10/1