Studies have shown that although intrusive thoughts appear universally, the majority of individuals do not view intrusive thoughts as problematic (Freeston, Ladouceur, Thibodeau, & Gagnon, 1991; Rachman & de Silva, 1978; Salkovskis & Harrison, 1984).
Therefore, it is not the presence of intrusive thoughts that causes obsessional problems, but another factor that plays a role in the development of abnormal obsessions.
According to the cognitive model of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) put forward by Salkovskis (1985), the most important factor that distinguishes individuals with and without OCD is the individual’s evaluation of naturally occurring intrusive thoughts. This study was conducted in a sample of university students consisting of 326 students. cognitive biases (responsibility, thought-action fusion and thought control) in the relationship between intrusive thoughts and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.Besides the s the role of the strainHe aimed to test Salkovskis’ model by examining it.
A significant interaction effect emerged between the frequency and distress of intrusive thoughts. In addition, a significant three-way interaction was found between Frequency & Distress & Responsibility as a measure of OCD symptoms. These results suggest that the assessment of intrusive thoughts is important in predicting OCD symptoms, thus supporting Salkovskis’ OCD model.
