A mobile app to challenge obsessional beliefs in adolescents: a protocol of a two-armed, parallel randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a crucial stage for the development of OCD symptoms that, in most cases, persist into adulthood. This requires designing preventive strategies tailored to this population. Therefore, we aim to describe the study protocol that will be used to examine the effectiveness of a mobile health application to challenge obsessional beliefs in adolescents. METHODS: A two-armed randomized controlled trial will be conducted on an adolescent sample from the general population. The experimental group will use the intervention module (GGOC-AD) of a mobile app on the GGtude platform for 14 days whereas the control group will use a non-active module (GGN-AD) of said app. Primary outcome measures will be obsessional beliefs and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and secondary measures will be self-esteem and emotional symptoms. Three assessment points will be conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. A linear multiple regression model with an intention to treat approach will be used. The expected total sample size will be 55 participants. DISCUSSION: We expect that the intervention group will show a reduction in obsessional beliefs and OCD-symptoms at post and follow-up in comparison with the control group. Additionally, we expect that the app will improve participants' self-esteem. This study could provide an accessible mobile health tool to prevent OCD-related symptoms in adolescents. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06033391 . Registered September 4, 2023.

Urgencias psiquiátricas en la COVID-19: un estudio observacional durante 2019-2021 / Psychiatric emergencies in COVID-19: an observational study in 2019-2021

Introducción: En los primeros meses de la pandemia de la COVID-19 se reportó un descenso de las consultas en Urgencias Psiquiátricas (UP) en diferentes países. Este estudio describe la situación de las UP en un hospital público de Valencia (España) durante 2019-2021. Metodología: El diseño fue observacional y retrospectivo, e incluyó 1161 consultas en UP (M = 40.08 años; DT = 15.64; 51.7% mujeres). Se establecieron seis períodos temporales para la comparación: dos globales (no pandemia/pandemia) y cuatro intrapandémicos. Resultados: la media de consultas diarias fue similar entre el período anterior a la pandemia y el período pandémico; sin embargo, durante el confinamiento se dieron menos consultas/día que en el resto de los períodos intrapandemia. En la pandemia se recibieron más consultas relacionadas con el espectro psicótico y menos con los trastornos depresivos. El 30.74% de las consultas en UP de todos los períodos evaluados requirieron hospitalización psiquiátrica. Conclusiones: La situación de las UP parece estabilizarse durante el año posterior a la declaración del estado de alarma en España, aunque sigue siendo necesario examinar los factores que determinan la asistencia a UP en situaciones de emergencia. (AU)

Introduction: In the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease in consultations in Psychiatric Emergencies (PE) was reported in different countries. This study describes the situation of PE in a public hospital in Valencia (Spain) during 2019-2021. Methodology: The design was observational and retrospective. 1161 PE's consultations were included (M = 40.08 years; DT =15.64; 51.7% women). Six time periods were established for comparison: two global (non-pandemic/pandemic) and four intra-pandemic periods. Results: Mean daily consultations were similar before and during pandemic. However, there were less consultations in lockdown than in post-lockdown periods. In the pandemic, more consultations were related to the psychotic spectrum and fewer to depressive disorders. Up to 30.74% of PE consultations in the examined periods required psychiatric hospitalization. Conclusions: The situation of PE seems to stabilize during the year after the declaration of the alarm state in Spain, although the factors that determine attendance in emergency situations need further attention. (AU)

Maladaptive Consequences of Mental Intrusions with Obsessive, Dysmorphic, Hypochondriac, and Eating-disorders Related Contents: Cross-cultural Differences / Consecuencias negativas de las intrusiones mentales con contenidos obsesivos, dismórficos, hipocondriacos y alimentarios: diferencias transculturales

AbstractBackground/Objective: Unwanted mental intrusions (UMIs) with contents related to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Illness Anxiety Disorder (IAD), and Eating Disorders (EDs) are highly prevalent, independently of the cultural and/or social context. Cognitive-behavioral explanations for these disorders postulates that the escalation from common UMIs to clinically relevant symptoms depends on the maladaptive consequences (i.e., emotions, appraisals, and control strategies) of experiencing UMIs. This study examines, from a cross-cultural perspective, the cognitive-behavioral postulates of the maladaptive consequences of having UMIs. Method: Non-clinical 1,473 participants from Europe, the Middle-East, and South America completed the Questionnaire of Unpleasant Intrusive Thoughts to assess the maladaptive consequences of experiencing highly disturbing OCD, BDD, IAD, and EDs-related UMIs. Results: Findings revealed main effects for both the country and the consequences associated with the four UMI contents. Interaction effects between the consequences of each UMI content and the sample location were also observed. Conclusions: Cognitive-Behavioral models for OCD, BDD, IAD, and EDs should be implemented along with socio-cultural variables that increase the understanding of the role of these variables in the phenomenology of UMIs and their associated consequences.© 2021 Asociación Española de Psicología Conductual. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. This is an open access article under the CC BY−NC−ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by−nc−nd/4.0/).

ResumenIntroducción/Objetivo: Las intrusiones mentales no deseadas (IM) de contenidos relacio-nados con el Trastorno Obsesivo-Compulsivo (TOC), el Trastorno Dismórfico Corporal (TDC), la Ansiedad por la Enfermedad (AE), y los Trastornos Alimentarios (TAs) son muy prevalentes, independientemente de la cultura y/o el contexto social. Las explicaciones cognitivo-conductuales de esos trastornos postulan que la escalada de IM normales a síntomas clínicamente relevantes depende de las consecuencias desadaptativas (i.e., emociones, valoraciones y estrategias de control) de las IM. Este estudio examina los planteamientos sobre dichas consecuencias desde una perspectiva transcultural. Méto-do: 1.473 participantes de Europa, Oriente Medio y Suramérica completaron el Inventario de Pensamientos Intrusos Desagradables para evaluar las consecuencias desadaptativas de experimentar IM muy molestas con contenidos de TOC, TDC, AE y TAs. Resultados: Se ob-tuvieron efectos principales tanto para el país como para las consecuencias asociadas con los cuatro contenidos de IM, así como efectos de interacción entre las consecuencias de cada modalidad de IM y la localización de la muestra. Conclusiones: Los modelos cogniti-vo-conductuales sobre el TOC, el TDC, la AE y los TAs deben complementarse con varia-bles socioculturales que aumenten la comprensión del papel de esas variables en la feno-menología de las IM y sus consecuencias asociadas.© 2021 Asociación Española de Psicología Conductual. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. This is an open access article under the CC BY−NC−ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by−nc−nd/4.0/)

Maladaptive Consequences of Mental Intrusions with Obsessive, Dysmorphic, Hypochondriac, and Eating-disorders Related Contents: Cross-cultural Differences.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Unwanted mental intrusions (UMIs) with contents related to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Illness Anxiety Disorder (IAD), and Eating Disorders (EDs) are highly prevalent, independently of the cultural and/or social context. Cognitive-behavioral explanations for these disorders postulates that the escalation from common UMIs to clinically relevant symptoms depends on the maladaptive consequences (i.e., emotions, appraisals, and control strategies) of experiencing UMIs. This study examines, from a cross-cultural perspective, the cognitive-behavioral postulates of the maladaptive consequences of having UMIs. METHOD: Non-clinical 1,473 participants from Europe, the Middle-East, and South America completed the Questionnaire of Unpleasant Intrusive Thoughts to assess the maladaptive consequences of experiencing highly disturbing OCD, BDD, IAD, and EDs-related UMIs. RESULTS: Findings revealed main effects for both the country and the consequences associated with the four UMI contents. Interaction effects between the consequences of each UMI content and the sample location were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive-Behavioral models for OCD, BDD, IAD, and EDs should be implemented along with socio-cultural variables that increase the understanding of the role of these variables in the phenomenology of UMIs and their associated consequences.

INTRODUCCIÓN/OBJETIVO: Las intrusiones mentales no deseadas (IM) de contenidos relacionados con el Trastorno Obsesivo-Compulsivo (TOC), el Trastorno Dismórfico Corporal (TDC), la Ansiedad por la Enfermedad (AE), y los Trastornos Alimentarios (TAs) son muy prevalentes, independientemente de la cultura y/o el contexto social. Las explicaciones cognitivo-conductuales de esos trastornos postulan que la escalada de IM normales a síntomas clínicamente relevantes depende de las consecuencias desadaptativas (i.e., emociones, valoraciones y estrategias de control) de las IM. Este estudio examina los planteamientos sobre dichas consecuencias desde una perspectiva transcultural. MÉTODO: 1.473 participantes de Europa, Oriente Medio y Suramérica completaron el Inventario de Pensamientos Intrusos Desagradables para evaluar las consecuencias desadaptativas de experimentar IM muy molestas con contenidos de TOC, TDC, AE y TAs. RESULTADOS: Se obtuvieron efectos principales tanto para el país como para las consecuencias asociadas con los cuatro contenidos de IM, así como efectos de interacción entre las consecuencias de cada modalidad de IM y la localización de la muestra. CONCLUSIONES: Los modelos cognitivo-conductuales sobre el TOC, el TDC, la AE y los TAs deben complementarse con variables socioculturales que aumenten la comprensión del papel de esas variables en la fenomenología de las IM y sus consecuencias asociadas.

Dysmorphic and illness anxiety-related unwanted intrusive thoughts in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Unwanted intrusive thoughts (UITs) are considered normal variants of the obsessions found in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Similarly, intrusive and persistent preoccupations about appearance defects in body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and images and thoughts about illness in illness anxiety disorder (IAD) are abnormal variants of the thoughts and concerns about appearance and health found in non-clinical individuals. This study examines whether patients with OCD have frequent and distressing UITs with contents related to BDD and IAD, in addition to OCD-related UITs. METHOD: Thirty-nine participants with OCD (Mage = 32.45, standard deviation [SD] = 11.57; 63% men) completed the Questionnaire of Unpleasant Intrusive Thoughts (QUIT), designed to assess obsessional, dysmorphic and illness anxiety UITs and their associated functional consequences (emotions, appraisals, and neutralizing or control strategies). RESULTS: Up to 71% of the individuals with OCD experienced the three UIT modalities. As expected, OCD-related UITs were the most frequent, although were no differences among the three UIT contents in terms of the disturbance they caused. The OCD intrusions were the most interfering, egodystonic and dysfunctionally appraised, and they instigated more neutralizing behaviours. Nonetheless, all UITs instigate the need to do something to alleviate the discomfort caused by their intrusion and attempts to suppress them. CONCLUSION: UITs with different contents not always related to typical obsessive themes are a common experience in patients with OCD. These UITs could have detrimental consequences for the course of the disorder itself, and they should be adequately addressed in both the assessment and treatment of these patients.

The cross-cultural and transdiagnostic nature of unwanted mental intrusions.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Unwanted mental intrusions (UMIs), typically discussed in relation to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), are highly prevalent, regardless of the specific nationality, religion, and/or cultural context. Studies have also shown that UMIs related to Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Illness anxiety/Hypochondriasis (IA-H), and Eating Disorders (EDs) are commonly experienced. However, the influence of culture on these UMIs and their transdiagnostic nature has not been investigated. METHOD: Participants were 1,473 non-clinical individuals from seven countries in Europe, the Middle-East, and South America. All the subjects completed the Questionnaire of Unpleasant Intrusive Thoughts, which assesses the occurrence and discomfort of four UMI contents related to OCD, BDD, IA-H, and EDs, and symptom questionnaires on the four disorders. RESULTS: Overall, 64% of the total sample reported having experienced the four UMIs. The EDs intrusions were the most frequently experienced, whereas hypochondriacal intrusions were the least frequent but the most disturbing. All the UMIs were significantly related to each other in frequency and disturbance, and all of them were associated with clinical measures of OCD, BDD, IA-H, and EDs. CONCLUSIONS: UMIs are a common phenomenon across different cultural contexts and operate transdiagnostically across clinically different disorders.

INTRODUCCIÓN/OBJETIVO: Las intrusiones mentales no deseadas (IM), clásicamente estudiadas en relación con el trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo (TOC), tienen una prevalencia elevada independientemente de la nacionalidad, religión, y/o el contexto cultural. Las investigaciones muestran que también es habitual experimentar IM sobre contenidos relacionados con el trastorno dismórfico corporal (TDC), la ansiedad por la enfermedad/hipocondría (AE-H) y los trastornos alimentarios (TCA). Sin embargo, la influencia de la cultura sobre estas IM y su naturaleza transdiagnóstica no se han investigado. MÉTODO: Participaron 1.473 personas de siete países de Europa, Oriente Medio y Suramérica. Todas completaron el Cuestionario de Pensamientos Intrusos Desagradables, que evalúa la ocurrencia y malestar asociados a cuatro contenidos de IM relacionados con TOC, TDC, AE-H y TCA, y cuestionarios sobre síntomas de los cuatro trastornos. RESULTADOS: El 64% de la muestra total había experimentado las cuatro modalidades de IM. Las IM-TCA fueron las más frecuentes y las hipocondríacas las menos, pero las más molestas. Todas las IM mantuvieron relaciones entre sí, tanto en frecuencia como en molestia, y todas se asociaron con las medidas clínicas de TOC, TDC, AE-H y TCA. CONCLUSIONES: Las IM son una experiencia habitual en diferentes contextos culturales y operan de modo transdiagnóstico en trastornos clínicamente distintos.

The cross-cultural and transdiagnostic nature of unwanted mental intrusions / Expresión transcultural y naturaleza transdiagnóstica de las intrusiones mentales no deseadas

Background/Objective: Unwanted mental intrusions (UMIs), typically discussed in relation to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), are highly prevalent, regardless of the specific nationality, religion, and/or cultural context. Studies have also shown that UMIs related to Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Illness anxiety/Hypochondriasis (IA-H), and Eating Disorders (EDs) are commonly experienced. However, the influence of culture on these UMIs and their transdiagnostic nature has not been investigated. Method: Participants were 1,473 non-clinical individuals from seven countries in Europe, the Middle-East, and South America. All the subjects completed the Questionnaire of Unpleasant Intrusive Thoughts, which assesses the occurrence and discomfort of four UMI contents related to OCD, BDD, IA-H, and EDs, and symptom questionnaires on the four disorders. Results: Overall, 64% of the total sample reported having experienced the four UMIs. The EDs intrusions were the most frequently experienced, whereas hypochondriacal intrusions were the least frequent but the most disturbing. All the UMIs were significantly related to each other in frequency and disturbance, and all of them were associated with clinical measures of OCD, BDD, IA-H, and EDs. Conclusions: UMIs are a common phenomenon across different cultural contexts and operate transdiagnostically across clinically different disorders

Introducción/Objetivo: Las intrusiones mentales no deseadas (IM), clásicamente estudiadas en relación con el trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo (TOC), tienen una prevalencia elevada independientemente de la nacionalidad, religión, y/o el contexto cultural. Las investigaciones muestran que también es habitual experimentar IM sobre contenidos relacionados con el trastorno dismórfico corporal (TDC), la ansiedad por la enfermedad/hipocondría (AE-H) y los trastornos alimentarios (TCA). Sin embargo, la influencia de la cultura sobre estas IM y su naturaleza transdiagnóstica no se han investigado. Método: Participaron 1.473 personas de siete países de Europa, Oriente Medio y Suramérica. Todas completaron el Cuestionario de Pensamientos Intrusos Desagradables, que evalúa la ocurrencia y malestar asociados a cuatro contenidos de IM relacionados con TOC, TDC, AE-H y TCA, y cuestionarios sobre síntomas de los cuatro trastornos. Resultados: El 64% de la muestra total había experimentado las cuatro modalidades de IM. Las IM-TCA fueron las más frecuentes y las hipocondríacas las menos, pero las más molestas. Todas las IM mantuvieron relaciones entre sí, tanto en frecuencia como en molestia, y todas se asociaron con las medidas clínicas de TOC, TDC, AE-H y TCA. Conclusiones: Las IM son una experiencia habitual en diferentes contextos culturales y operan de modo transdiagnóstico en trastornos clínicamente distintos

Assisting relapse prevention in OCD using a novel mobile app-based intervention: A case report.

Mobile health apps increase the accessibility of cognitive-behavioral-based interventions before, during, or following treatment. GGOC is a mobile app designed to challenge maladaptive beliefs in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This single-case study assesses the usefulness of GGOC as a relapse prevention tool for OCD. The patient was a 26-year-old woman with severe contamination and washing/cleaning OCD symptoms (Y-BOCS = 33). GGOC was used for relapse prevention following CBT treatment. The patient completed 47 levels dedicated to OCD-relevant maladaptive beliefs. Before and after GGOC, the Y-BOCS, Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (OCI-R), Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ-20), and Depression subscale of the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale were completed. The OBQ-20 and OCI-R scores decreased from pre- to post-GGOC. The Y-BOCS decreased from 7 pre-GGOC to 2 post-GGOC. Findings support the efficacy of GGOC as a relapse prevention tool for individuals with OCD, and its contribution to maintaining gains after CBT.

Functional links of obsessive, dysmorphic, hypochondriac, and eating-disorders related mental intrusions.

Unwanted mental intrusions (UMIs) are the normal variants of obsessions in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), preoccupations about defects in Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), images about illness in Hypochondriasis (HYP), and thoughts about eating in Eating Disorders (EDs). The aim was to examine the similarities and differences in the functional links of four UMI contents, adopting a within-subject perspective. Method: 438 university students and community participants (M age = 29.84, SD = 11.41; 70.54% women) completed the Questionnaire of Unpleasant Intrusive Thoughts (QUIT) to assess the functional links (emotions, appraisals, and neutralizing/control strategies) of the most upsetting UMIs with OCD, BDD, HYP and EDs-contents. Results: HYP-related intrusions caused the highest emotional impact, OCD-related intrusions were the most interfering, and EDs-related intrusions interfered the least. The four UMI were equally ego-dystonic. Women appraised OCD-related intrusions more dysfunctionally, but men appraised the four intrusive contents similarly. All UMI instigated the urge to "do something", to keep them under control and/or neutralizing them. Conclusions: Similarities among the functional links of intrusions related to OCD, BDD, HYP and EDs contents support their transdiagnostic nature and they might contribute to understanding common factors in these disorders.

ANTECEDENTES/OBJETIVO: Las intrusiones mentales no deseadas (IM) son la variante normativa de obsesiones en el Trastorno Obsesivo-Compulsivo (TOC), preocupaciones por defectos en el Trastorno Dismórfico Corporal (TDC), imágenes sobre enfermedad en Hipocondría (TH) y pensamientos sobre alimentación en los Trastornos Alimentarios (TA). El objetivo fue examinar similitudes y diferencias en las relaciones funcionales de los cuatro contenidos de IM, adoptando una perspectiva intra-sujeto. MÉTODO: 438 estudiantes universitarios y participantes de la comunidad (M edad = 29,84; DT = 11,41; 70,54% mujeres) completaron el Inventario de Pensamientos Intrusos Desagradables, que evalúa las relaciones funcionales (emociones, valoraciones y estrategias de neutralización/control) de las IM más molestas con contenidos TOC, TDC, TH y TA. RESULTADOS: Las IM-TH evocaron más emociones negativas, las IM-TOC fueron las que más interfirieron y las IM-TA las que menos. Todas fueron igualmente egodistónicas. Las IM-TOC fueron las más disfuncionalmente valoradas por las mujeres, pero los hombres valoraron los cuatro contenidos de forma similar. Todas las IM promovieron la necesidad de "hacer algo" para controlarla/neutralizarla. CONCLUSIONES: Las similitudes en las relaciones funcionales de intrusiones relacionadas con contenidos del TOC, el TDC, el TH y los TA apoyan su naturaleza transdiagnóstica, pudiendo contribuir a la comprensión de los factores comunes entre esos trastornos.

Functional links of obsessive, dysmorphic, hypochondriac, and eating-disorders related mental intrusions / Relaciones funcionales de las intrusiones mentales con contenidos obsesivos, dismórficos, hipocondríacos y alimentarios

Background/Objective: Unwanted mental intrusions (UMIs) are the normal variants of obsessions in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), preoccupations about defects in Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), images about illness in Hypochondriasis (HYP), and thoughts about eating in Eating Disorders (EDs). The aim was to examine the similarities and differences in the functional links of four UMI contents, adopting a within-subject perspective. Method: 438 university students and community participants (Mage = 29.84, SD = 11.41; 70.54% women) completed the Questionnaire of Unpleasant Intrusive Thoughts (QUIT) to assess the functional links (emotions, appraisals, and neutralizing/control strategies) of the most upsetting UMIs with OCD, BDD, HYP and EDs-contents. Results: HYP-related intrusions caused the highest emotional impact, OCD related intrusions were the most interfering, and EDs-related intrusions interfered the least. The four UMI were equally ego-dystonic. Women appraised OCD-related intrusions more dysfunctionally, but men appraised the four intrusive contents similarly. All UMI instigated the urge to «do something», to keep them under control and/or neutralizing them. Conclusions: Similarities among the functional links of intrusions related to OCD, BDD, HYP and EDs contents support their transdiagnostic nature and they might contribute to understanding common factors in these disorders (AU)

Antecedentes/Objetivo: Las intrusiones mentales no deseadas (IM) son la variante normativa de obsesiones en el Trastorno Obsesivo-Compulsivo (TOC), preocupaciones por defectos en el Trastorno Dismórfico Corporal (TDC), imágenes sobre enfermedad en Hipocondría (TH) y pensamientos sobre alimentación en los Trastornos Alimentarios (TA). El objetivo fue examinar similitudes y diferencias en las relaciones funcionales de los cuatro contenidos de IM, adoptando una perspectiva intra-sujeto. Método: 438 estudiantes universitarios y participantes de la comunidad (Medad = 29,84; DT = 11,41; 70,54% mujeres) completaron el Inventario de Pensamientos Intrusos Desagradables, que evalúa las relaciones funcionales (emociones, valoraciones y estrategias de neutralización/ control) de las IM más molestas con contenidos TOC, TDC, TH y TA. Resultados: Las IM-TH evocaron más emociones negativas, las IM-TOC fueron las que más interfirieron y las IM-TA las que menos. Todas fueron igualmente egodistónicas. Las IM-TOC fueron las más disfuncionalmente valoradas por las mujeres, pero los hombres valoraron los cuatro contenidos de forma similar. Todas las IM promovieron la necesidad de «hacer algo» para controlarla/neutralizarla. Conclusiones: Las similitudes en las relaciones funcionales de intrusiones relacionadas con contenidos del TOC, el TDC, el TH y los TA apoyan su naturaleza transdiagnóstica, pudiendo contribuir a la comprensión de los factores comunes entre esos trastornos (AU)

Are unwanted mental intrusions a transdiagnostic variable? / ¿Son las intrusiones mentales no deseadas una variable transdiagnóstica?

INTRODUCTION: Unwanted mental intrusions (UMI) constitute the normal variants of obsessions in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), preoccupations about defects in Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), images about illness in Hypochondriasis (HYP), and thoughts about eating in Eating Disorders (EDs). We sought to investigate the relationships between frequency and discomfort associated with the experience of the four UMI contents, adopting a within-subject perspective. METHOD: A group of 438 university students and community participants (Mage = 29.84, SD = 11.41; 70.54% women), completed the Questionnaire of Unpleasant Intrusive Thoughts to assess the frequency and discomfort of four UMI contents related to OCD, BDD, HYP and EDs. RESULTS: Just over 76% of participants reported having experienced the four sets of intrusions. The ED-related were the most frequent but the least disturbing, whereas HYP intrusions were the least frequent but the most disturbing. The four UMI were significantly related to each other, both in frequency and discomfort. Women experienced OCD, BDD, and ED-related intrusions more frequently than men. Age was negatively associated with the frequency and distress of the four UMIs. CONCLUSIONS: UMIs might be a transdiagnostic variable across different disorders such as OCD, BDD, EDs, and Hypochondriasis, and they might contribute to explaining the phenomenological similarities among them

ANTECEDENTES: las intrusiones mentales (IM) constituyen la variante normativa de las obsesiones en el Trastorno Obsesivo-Compulsivo (TOC), las preocupaciones sobre defectos en el Trastorno Dismórfico Corporal (TDC), las imágenes sobre enfermedad en Hipocondría (TH), y pensamientos sobre alimentación en los Trastornos Alimentarios (TA). Nuestro objetivo es explorar, a nivel intra-sujeto, las relaciones entre la frecuencia y la molestia asociadas a las cuatro modalidades de IM. MÉTODO: 438 participantes (Medad = 29.84, DT = 11.41; 70,54% mujeres) completaron el Inventario de Pensamientos Intrusos Desagradables (INPIDES), que evalúa la presencia y molestia de IM con contenidos obsesivos, dismórficos, hipocondríacos y alimentarios. RESULTADOS: más del 76% de los participantes experimentaron las cuatro modalidades de IM. Las alimentarias fueron las más frecuentes pero las menos molestas, mientras que las hipocondríacas fueron las menos frecuentes pero las más molestas. La frecuencia y malestar de las cuatro IM correlacionaron entre sí. Las mujeres experimentaron las IM obsesivas, dismórficas y alimentarias más que los hombres. La edad se asoció negativamente con la frecuencia y el malestar de las IM. CONCLUSIÓN: las IM pueden ser una variable transdiagnóstica a trastornos como el TOC, el TDC, los TA y la Hipocondría, y ello puede contribuir a explicar las similitudes fenomenológicas entre estos trastornos

Are unwanted mental intrusions a transdiagnostic variable?

INTRODUCTION: Unwanted mental intrusions (UMI) constitute the normal variants of obsessions in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), preoccupations about defects in Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), images about illness in Hypochondriasis (HYP), and thoughts about eating in Eating Disorders (EDs). We sought to investigate the relationships between frequency and discomfort associated with the experience of the four UMI contents, adopting a within-subject perspective. METHOD: A group of 438 university students and community participants (Mage= 29.84, SD= 11.41; 70.54% women), completed the Questionnaire of Unpleasant Intrusive Thoughts to assess the frequency and discomfort of four UMI contents related to OCD, BDD, HYP and EDs. RESULTS: Just over 76% of participants reported having experienced the four sets of intrusions. The ED-related were the most frequent but the least disturbing, whereas HYP intrusions were the least frequent but the most disturbing. The four UMI were significantly related to each other, both in frequency and discomfort. Women experienced OCD, BDD, and ED-related intrusions more frequently than men. Age was negatively associated with the frequency and distress of the four UMIs. CONCLUSIONS: UMIs might be a transdiagnostic variable across different disorders such as OCD, BDD, EDs, and Hypochondriasis, and they might contribute to explaining the phenomenological similarities among them.