Unconscious habit systems in compulsive and impulsive disorders.
It may be useful to consider the application of Huang & Bargh's (H&B's) theory of unconscious motivational processes to psychopathology. In disorders of compulsivity and impulsivity, an unconscious habit system may play a key role in explaining ego-dystonic or self-destructive behaviour. H&B's theory may provide some insights into understanding conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and drug addiction; however, additional work is needed to address the neurocircuitry and neurochemistry mediating their abnormal underlying motivational processes.
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa. natalie.cuzen@uct.ac.za dan.stein@uct.ac.za http://www.health.uct.ac.za/departments/psychiatry/about/
Natalie L
NL
Cuzen
National Obsessive Compulsive Disorders Specialist Service, Hertfordshire Partnership NHS University Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Welwyn Garden City AL7 4HQ, United Kingdom. naomi.fineberg@hpft.nhs.uk http://www.hpft.nhs.uk/
Naomi A
NA
Fineberg
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa. natalie.cuzen@uct.ac.za dan.stein@uct.ac.za http://www.health.uct.ac.za/departments/psychiatry/about/
Dan J
DJ
Stein
D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment / Q000502:physiology*; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology*