Differences and similarities between obsessive intrusive thoughts and worry in a non-clinical population: study 1

Worry is the central characteristic of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) a nd obsessions are a central feature of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). There are strong similarities between these disorders: repetitive cognitiv e intrusions, negative emotions, difficulty dismissing the intrusion and fi nally, loss of mental control. Direct comparisons between obsessions and wo rries are almost nonexistent in the literature but key distinctions have be en proposed. The study attempted to specify the differences between obsessi ve intrusive thoughts and worry in a nonclinical population across a series of variables drawn from current models (appraisal, general descriptors and emotional reactions). 254 students participated in the study. They first i dentified an obsession-like intrusion and a worry and then evaluated them w ith the Cognitive Intrusion Questionnaire. Within-subject comparisons demon strated significant differences on several variables: frequency, duration, percentage of verbal and image content, interference, egodystonic nature, s timuli awareness, emotions, etc. Most of these differences remained signifi cant after controlling for frequency of thought. Discriminant analysis demo nstrated a low classification error rate when using nine variables to categ orize thoughts as obsessions or worries. Results generally support the diff erences postulated in the literature with the exception that obsessive intr usive thoughts are better controlled. The egodystonic/egosyntonic dimention emerged as an important variable in understanding obsessions and worry. (C ) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.