Disgust and psychopathological symptoms in a nonclinical sample

There is little doubt that disgust sensitivity plays a role in the developm ent of small animal phobias. However, it has been suggested that the basic emotion of disgust is implied in a broad range of psychopathological condit ions. The present study examined the relationship between disgust sensitivi ty and symptoms of phobias (other than animal phobias), obsessive-compulsiv e disorder, depression, and eating disorder in a nonclinical sample. Underg raduate psychology students were asked to complete the Disgust Sensitivity Questionnaire, as well as measures of phobic (Fear Questionnaire), obsessiv e-compulsive (Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory), depressive (Beck De pression Inventory), and eating disorder (Restraint Scale) symptomatology. Results showed that disgust sensitivity was only related to symptoms of ago raphobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The present findings cast doubt s on the idea that disgust sensitivity is a central factor underlying a bro ad range of psychopathological conditions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. A ll rights reserved.