Non-clinical obsessions in a young adolescent population: frequency and association with metacognitive variables.
OBJECTIVE
Little is known about normal obsessions in adolescence. This study examined the frequency and content of intrusions in adolescence, and a number of process variables that have been associated with obsessions in adults.


METHODS
Sixty-two adolescents (aged 12-14 years) participated. They completed measures of obsessions and metacognitive beliefs. They were interviewed about recent episodes of obsessional thought, including content, frequency, acceptability, distress, dismissibilty, interference, and avoidance.


RESULTS
Seventy-seven per cent of participants reported obsessions. Frequency, distress, dismissibility, acceptability, interference, and avoidance, were associated with metacognitive appraisals.


CONCLUSIONS
Obsessions are a normal experience in adolescence and are associated with metacognitive appraisals in the same way as for adults, indicating that adult models may be relevant for this younger population.
Crye
Jenny
J
University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Laskey
Ben
B
Cartwright-Hatton
Sam
S
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires