Abstract
Objectives
Despite growing research on mindfulness-based interventions for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), it remains unknown which aspects of mindfulness are most beneficial and whether the effects vary for different OCD symptom domains.
Methods
To clarify these relationships, we examined the links between dispositional mindfulness, experimentally induced mindfulness, and obsessive compulsive (OC) symptoms in a sample of young adults selected for elevated OC symptoms (N = 97). First, we investigated the association between dispositional mindfulness on the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and clinical interview-assessed OC symptoms, as well as anxiety and urge to ritualize in response to two OC symptom provocation tasks. Second, we examined the effects of a brief, computerized Mindful Attention (MA) training relative to a Control training on responses to two different OC symptom provocation tasks (harm- or contamination-related).
Results
FFMQ-nonjudgment negatively predicted obsession and compulsion severity, as well as post-task urge intensity. None of the other FFMQ indices was predictive of any OC symptom measures. The effect of MA training, relative to Control training, was moderated by the type of OC symptom (harm-related vs. contamination-related concerns) such that it appeared to have a beneficial effect for the former, but not the latter.
Conclusions
Our findings indicate that the nonjudgment facet of mindfulness may be especially important for individuals with OCD, and that MA training may be more helpful for harm-related unacceptable thoughts than for contamination concerns. Future research and clinical interventions would benefit from further examination of the relationship between specific facets of mindfulness and OC symptoms.
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Data Availability
All data are available at the Open Science Framework.
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We would like to acknowledge the contributions of Daniel Forster to the development of the mindful attention and control training tasks.
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DÇ: designed and executed the study, assisted with the data analyses, and wrote the paper. HER: collaborated with the design and writing of the study. HCB: assisted with the literature review and revisions of the paper. KRT: designed the study, analyzed the data, and assisted with writing the paper. All the authors approved the final version of the manuscript for submission.
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Çek, D., Reese, H.E., Broos, H.C. et al. Dispositional and Experimentally Induced Mindfulness Are Distinctly Associated with Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms. Mindfulness 13, 2162–2174 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01934-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01934-3