Below are the abstracts of the talks presented:
Pathological narcissism and relationship obsessive
compulsive disorder (ROCD) symptoms
Laura Caccico, Gabriele Melli, Francesco Bulli, Simona Gelli,
Elena Micheli, Guy Doron
Introduction: One
impairing symptom dimension of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that has
been receiving increasing research and clinical interest is Relationship
OCD (ROCD). This OCD dimension includes
two main presentations. Relationship-centered
ROCD symptoms focusing on the suitability of the relationship itself and
partner-focused ROCD symptoms centering on the relational partner perceived
suitability. Partner-focused ROCD symptoms include obsessive doubts and concerns about
perceived partners’ flaws in a wide variety of
domains, such as morality, sociability, appearance. Clinical experience suggests
that clients presenting with partner-focused ROCD symptoms may also show
increased levels of narcissistic traits. For instance, like increased
narcissistic traits, partner-focused ROCD symptoms have been associated with
over-reliance on partner’s perceived value for one’s self-esteem, increased
attentiveness to alternative romantic partners, and infidelity. This
study aimed to explore the
association between partner-focused ROCD symptoms and pathological narcissism, particularly the
vulnerable narcissism. More specifically, we
evaluated a model whereby narcissistic traits increase vulnerability to
partner-focused ROCD symptoms via partner value contingent self-worth.
Methods: 310 participants with a self-referred diagnosis of
ROCD were recruited online. They were administered the Pathological
Narcissism Inventory (PNI)the Partner-Related Obsessive-Compulsive
Symptoms Inventory (PROCSI), the Partner
Value Contingent Self-Worth (PVCSW), the Relationship Catastrophization Scale (RECATS), and the maladaptive relationship belief and the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire-20
(OBQ-20).
Results: As expected, the correlation between vulnerable
narcissism and partner-focused ROCD symptoms was large (.51). Vulnerable
narcissism was a significant predictor of partner-focused ROCD symptoms, together
with maladaptive beliefs about the catastrophic consequences of remaining in a wrong
relationship and partner value contingent self-worth. The latter was a partial
mediator in the relationship between vulnerable narcissism and partner-focused
ROCD symptoms.
Conclusion: As
expected, vulnerable narcissism seems to have an important role in the
development of partner-focused ROCD symptoms via partner value contingent
self-worth.
Reducing Relationship
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder symptoms and related psychological features:
preliminary evidence form a brief mobile-app intervention
Silvia
Cerea1, Gioia Bottesi1, Guy Doron2, Denise
Broggio1, & Marta Ghisi1
1Department of General Psychology, University of
Padua, Italy; 2Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary
Center Herzliya, Herzliya, Israel
Introduction: Relationship Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (ROCD) is characterized by
obsessive and compulsive symptoms pertaining intimate relationships (Doron et
al., 2014). ROCD have been associated with dyadic distress, depression, and
anxiety (Doron et al., 2012; Doron et al., 2014). A recent study (Roncero et
al., 2019) found a reduction in ROCD symptoms after 15 consecutive days of
training with a mobile-app intervention called GGRO. GGRO was developed by
Doron to challenge maladaptive beliefs that underline ROCD following Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy principles. Based on previous evidence, the aim of the
current study was to evaluate the efficacy of GGRO in reducing ROCD symptoms
and its associated psychological features in the Italian context.
Method: Thirty-three participants (72.73% females) who scored above the cut-off
on self-report questionnaires assessing ROCD beliefs and symptoms were
randomized to groups undertaking immediate-use (iApp, n = 17) or delayed use (dApp, n
= 16) of GGRO. All participants completed online self-report questionnaires
assessing ROCD (Relationships Obsessive Compulsive Inventory, ROCI; Partner-Related
Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms Inventory, PROCSI) and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Revised,
OCI-R) symptoms, and related psychological features such as self-esteem (Rosenberg
Self-Esteem Scale, RSES), social anxiety (Social Interaction Anxiety Scale, SIAS), general distress (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, DASS-21), and intolerance of uncertainty (Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-12, IUS-12).
Questionnaires were completed at baseline (T0), 15 days from baseline (T1), and
30 days from baseline (T2). Participants in the iApp group started to use the
app at baseline and continued for 15 days. Participants in the dApp group were
requested to wait for 15 days before starting to use the app for 15 consecutive
days (T1 to T2).
Results: Concerning the iApp group, 1×3
(Time; T0 vs. T1 vs. T2) Repeated Measure ANOVAs were performed and a
significant reduction from T0 to T1 and from T0 to T2 (but not from T1 to T2) emerged
in the ROCI (p <.001), PROCSI (p <.001), OCI-R (p =.03), and IUS-12 (p
<.001); the same pattern emerged with an increasing of the RSES (p <.001). Regarding the SIAS and the
DASS-21, a significant reduction only from T0 to T1 (respectively, p =.02 and p =.03) was observed. Moreover, a series of 2 (Group) x2 (Time; T0
vs. T1) Repeated Measure ANOVAs were conducted to compare the iApp and the dApp
groups across time. Analyses revealed significant Group x Time interactions in
RSES (p =.01), SIAS (p =.01), ROCI (p =.01), PROCSI (p
<.001), and IUS-12 (p =.03);
specifically, the iApp group showed decreased scores (increased with respect to
RSES) than the dApp group at T1.
Discussion and Conclusion: Present results show that 15 consecutive days
of GGRO may lead to significant reduction in ROCD symptoms and in its associated
psychological features. To note, most of those reductions were maintained after
2 weeks (follow-up). These findings, in accordance with previous studies (Roncero
et al., 2018; Roncero et al., 2019), provide further evidence for the efficacy
of GGRO in reducing ROCD beliefs and symptoms and its associated psychological
features also in an Italian non-clinical sample.
Differential Cognitive Predictors of Relationship, Sexual-Orientation
and general Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms
Richard Moulding, Stephanie
Fernandez. Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
Background and Objectives: Two
previously understudied symptom themes of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
have recently received greater consideration in the literature:
Relationship-related OCD (ROCD) and Sexual-Orientation OCD (SO-OCD). Cognitive
appraisal models of OCD suggest that symptoms are maintained by maladaptive
beliefs that drive unhelpful interpretations of normal intrusive thoughts. The
present study aimed to examine the contribution of general, specific, and
self-related beliefs to obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms of both ROCD and
SO-OCD.
Method: The sample
comprised 264 non-clinical participants (135 males) with a mean age of 34.65
years (SD = 12.01). Participants completed an online questionnaire,
which comprised a battery of self-report items.
Results: Using Structural
Equation Modeling (SEM), the study found that different cognitions related to
different OCD symptoms dimensions. It was found that general maladaptive
beliefs were predictive of most forms of general OCD symptoms. Specific
sexual-orientation beliefs were predictive of SO-OCD, over-and-above the more
general beliefs noted in the cognitive appraisal model of OCD, but specific
relationship-related beliefs did not strongly predict ROCD symptoms.
Self-themes, particularly the “feared self”, were found to contribute
significantly to OC symptoms in ROCD and SO-OCD, as well as to general OCD
(particularly symptoms involving repugnant thoughts).
Conclusions: Self-themes
and their contribution to specific OCD symptoms suggest that beliefs centred on
feared self-perceptions and inner-self concerns may also be important in
understanding symptom presentations. These findings, if replicated in clinical
samples, may provide a basis for the development of specific
cognitive-behavioural interventions that target such beliefs relevant to OCD,
and potentially other related disorders.
“My Partner is Unreliable”: Exploring Obsessive Distrust
as an Additional Dimension of Partner-Focused ROCD Symptoms
Guy Doron, Or Brandes & Avital Stern
Baruch Ivcher School of
Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, Herzliya, Israel
Relationship Obsessive–compulsive disorder (ROCD) is a
dimension of Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) focusing on close and intimate
relationships. ROCD may focus on the relationship itself (i.e.,
relationship-centered) or the perceived flaws of the relationship partner
(i.e., partner-focused). Obsessive preoccupations with the perceived flaws of
the relationship partner has been shown to center on domains such as
intelligence, appearance, sociality, emotional regulation, competence and
morality. Clinical experience suggests, however, that obsessive doubts and
preoccupation with the perceived untrustworthiness or unreliability of the
partner (i.e., obsessive distrust) may be an additional domain of
partner-focused ROCD symptoms. The present investigation reports on the
development and evaluation of the Obsessive Distrust Inventory (ODIS), an 11-item
measure assessing the severity of obsessive distrust phenomena. Factor analysis
supported a one internally consistent factor. The ODIS also showed the expected
associations with OCD symptoms, ROCD symptoms and other mental health and
relationship measures. Moreover, the ODIS significantly predicted depression,
anxiety and relationship violence, over-and-above common mental health and
relationship measures. Theoretical and clinical implications of these results
will be discussed.
