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Related Experiment Videos

How to suppress obsessive thoughts.

Eric Rassin1, Philip Diepstraten

  • 1Faculty of Social Sciences (Institute of Psychology), Erasmus University, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands. rassin@fsw.eur.nl

Behaviour Research and Therapy
|December 19, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Consciously avoiding unwanted thoughts often backfires, leading to more intrusions. This study suggests self-punishment, not distraction, is the key mechanism in thought suppression for individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Thought suppression, the conscious effort to avoid specific thoughts, is often ineffective and can paradoxically increase thought intrusions.
  • Existing measures like the White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI) assess thought suppression tendencies but not the specific mental control strategies employed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mental control strategies individuals use during thought suppression.
  • To determine the primary mechanism underlying ineffective thought suppression, particularly in the context of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Main Methods:

  • A sample of 47 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder completed the White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI), the Thought Control Questionnaire, and psychopathology measures.

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  • Data analysis focused on identifying correlations between suppression strategies and psychopathology.
  • The study examined the relationship between thought suppression tendencies and the methods used to control intrusive thoughts.

    • Main Results:

    • Findings indicate that self-punishment, rather than distraction, may be the critical mechanism driving thought suppression.
    • The study identified self-punishment as a significant factor in the ineffectiveness of thought suppression strategies.

    Conclusions:

    • The study suggests that self-punishment is a more prominent strategy in thought suppression than previously assumed, particularly for individuals with OCD.
    • Rethinking the mechanisms of thought suppression may be necessary, shifting focus from distraction to self-punitive cognitive processes.