title: Obsessive-compulsive symptoms and attentional bias: An eye-tracking methodology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cognitive models suggest that attentional biases are integral in the maintenance of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS). Such biases have been established experimentally in anxiety disorders; however, the evidence is unclear in Obsessive Compulsive disorder (OCD). In the present study, an eye-tracking methodology was employed to explore attentional biases in relation to OCS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 85 community volunteers was assessed on OCS using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale-self report. Participants completed an eye-tracking paradigm where they were exposed to OCD, Aversive and Neutral visual stimuli. Indices of attentional bias were derived from the eye-tracking data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Simple linear regressions were performed with OCS severity as the predictor and eye-tracking measures of the different attentional biases for each of the three stimuli types were the criterion variables. Findings revealed that OCS severity moderately predicted greater frequency and duration of fixations on OCD stimuli, which reflect the maintenance attentional bias. No significant results were found in support of other biases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interpretations based on a non-clinical sample limit the generalisability of the conclusions, although use of such samples in OCD research has been found to be comparable to clinical populations. Future research would include both clinical and sub-clinical participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results provide some support for the theory of maintained attention in OCD attentional biases, as opposed to vigilance theory. Individuals with greater OCS do not orient to OCD stimuli any faster than individuals with lower OCS, but once a threat is identified, these individuals allocate more attention to OCS-relevant stimuli..
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. Electronic address: donncha.hanna@qub.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Donncha
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Gareth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK; Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK. Electronic address: k.dyer@qub.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kevin F W
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Dyer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anxiety; Attentional bias; Eye-tracking; OCD; Obsessive-compulsive disorder