Do patients with OCD and pathological gambling have similar dysfunctional cognitions?
The obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder (OCSD) theory postulates that a wide range of disorders is closely related to OCD. Current cognitive models ascertain that certain beliefs leading to misinterpretation of the significance of intrusions are important in the etiology and maintenance of OCD. This study examined whether pathological gambling, a disorder belonging to the OC spectrum, is characterized by similar dysfunctional cognitions as OCD. Dysfunctional beliefs of OCD patients were compared to those of patients with pathological gambling, panic disorder and normal controls. These beliefs were measured by the Obsessive-compulsive Beliefs Questionnaire-87 (OBQ-87), which was developed by a group of leading OCD researchers [Behav. Res. Ther. 35 (1997) 667]. It was hypothesized that according to the OCSD theory, pathological gamblers would exhibit similar cognitions to OCD patients, as well as increased levels of OCD symptoms. Analysis showed that OCD patients exhibited higher OBQ-87 scores than both panic patients and normal controls, but equal to pathological gambling patients. Pathological gamblers exhibited, however, no increase in OCD symptoms. These mixed results do not seem to support the OC spectrum theory for pathological gambling, moreover being contradictory to contemporary cognitive OCD models.
Anholt
Gideon E
GE
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Roeterstraat 15, 1018 WB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Emmelkamp
Paul M G
PM
Cath
Danielle C
DC
van Oppen
Patricia
P
Nelissen
Henri
H
Smit
Johannes H
JH
D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales