title: Termination of washing compulsions: a problem of internal reference criteria or 'not just right' experience?
abstract: Recent research suggests that obsessive-compulsive washers are more likely than individuals without washing compulsions to use conscious, internal reference criteria when deciding when to terminate compulsions (Wahl, Salkovskis, & Cotter, 2008). An alternative view is that they possess tendencies towards non-cognitive, automatic 'not just right' experiences (NJREs) that influence compulsion duration. The current study sought to investigate the latter explanation using valid behavioral tasks. Non-clinical participants (N=133) completed self-report measures, immersed their hands in a dirt mixture, and afterwards were allowed to wash their hands. Additionally, a subset of participants completed an in vivo assessment of NJRE using a pile of clutter. Total number and intensity of NJREs were predictive of hand-washing duration. Additionally, affective response to the clutter was uniquely predictive of hand-washing duration when controlling for pre-wash anxiety. These results suggest that internal reference criteria as well as NJREs may influence compulsive washing, though the former may be a consequence of the latter.
authors.affiliation: Florida State University, Department of Psychology, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. cougle@psy.fsu.edu
authors.forename: Jesse R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cougle
authors.forename: Amy R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Goetz
authors.forename: Kristin E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Fitch
authors.forename: Kirsten A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hawkins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires