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Updated: Oct 15, 2026

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression
Published on: May 19, 2015
White bears and other elusive intrusions. Assessing the relevance of thought suppression for obsessional phenomena
Abstract:
According to recent research, deliberate suppression of unwanted thoughts may result in a paradoxical increase in their frequency. Recent cognitive-behavioral theories of obsessive-compulsive disorder now consider active thought suppression to be a crucial factor in the pathogenesis of obsessions. However, there are considerable inconsistencies in the results of studies investigating the thought suppression paradox that make it difficult to apply findings to obsessional problems. Furthermore, many studies have low ecological validity for obsessional problems. This article reviews the thought suppression research, discusses methodological issues relevant to application of the thought suppression paradox to obsessional problems, and offers recommendations for future research.
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