Abstract
Background
One of the most common compulsions in obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is repeated checking. Negative beliefs about memory ability have previously been shown to cause and to be predictive of checking behaviour. This suggests they represent an important belief domain that should be assessed and targeted in psychological treatments for OCD. Beliefs about the importance and reliability of memory may also relate to checking. These beliefs have yet to be investigated, however, and a measure to assess these constructs is warranted. Thus, the purpose of this pair of studies was to develop the Beliefs about Memory Inventory (BAMI).
Methods
In Study 1, participants were non-clinical undergraduates (n = 760) and a small sample of clinical participants with OCD who reported primary checking concerns (n = 24). They completed the potential BAMI items, along with measures of OCD symptoms, beliefs, and related psychopathology domains.
Results
An exploratory factor analysis revealed a 2-factor solution with items pertaining to (1) beliefs about memory ability (MA) and (2) beliefs about memory importance (MI). Given the low number of items in the MI factor, a second iteration of the BAMI was developed (Study 2). It was completed by undergraduate students (n = 483) in order to assess the updated version. The final version of the self-report questionnaire had the same two factors and exhibited strong psychometric properties. BAMI factors were predictive of checking symptoms over and above previously known OCD belief domains related to checking, including inflated responsibility and overestimation of threat.
Conclusions
The BAMI holds promise for both research and clinical use. Results are discussed within the framework of cognitive theory of and treatments for OCD.
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Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge Samantha Wilson for her assistance with the online survey configuration and data collection, as well as Stefanie Lavoie, Sarah McIlwaine, Kelsey Hannon, and Sarah Schell for their help with data collection. This study was funded in part by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grant (RGPIN 249833 2007) and by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Operating Grant (MOP 119283).
Funding
This study was funded in part by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grant (RGPIN 249833 2007) and by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Operating Grant (MOP 119283).
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Gillian M. Alcolado and Adam S. Radomsky declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Alcolado, G.M., Radomsky, A.S. The Beliefs About Memory Inventory (BAMI) and Its Ability to Predict Compulsive Checking. Cogn Ther Res 47, 140–154 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-022-10340-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-022-10340-x