The connection between disgust and obsessions and compulsions in a non-clinical sample

Although obsessive-compulsive patients (OCD) frequently report thoughts and compulsions about dirt and contamination, there is scarce evidence for a r elationship between disgust and OCD. This study investigates whether there is a specific relationship between obsessive symptoms and disgust, independ ently of general psychological distress symptoms. We tested 278 non-clinica l volunteers, through the Disgust Scale [Haidt, J., McCauley, C., & Rozin, P. (1994). Individual differences in sensitivity to disgust: a scale sampli ng seven domains of disgust elicitors. Personality Individual Differences. 16, 701-713], the Padua Inventory - Revised [PI-R; van Oppen, P., Hoekstra, R. J., & Emmelkamp, M. G. (1985). The structure of obsessive-compulsive sy mptoms. Behaviour Research and Therapy,, 33, 15-23], the State-Trait Anxiet y Inventory [Spielberger, C. D., Gorsuch, R. L., Lushene, R., Vagg, P. R., & Jacobs, G. A. (1983). Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press], and the Beck Depression Inventory [Beck, A. T., & Steer, R. (1987). Beck depression inventor, v sc oring manual. The psychological corporation. New York: Harcourt Brace Janov ich]. A multiple regression analysis showed a significant positive relation ship between disgust and obsessive symptoms, after controlling for gender, age, anxiety, and depression. Washing and checking behaviors were best pred icted by disgust, while impulses and rumination were best predicted by anxi ety and/or depression. These findings are in line with the hypothesis of a specific relationship between disgust and at least some kinds of obsessive symptoms. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.