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Real-time fMRI Biofeedback Targeting the Orbitofrontal Cortex for Contamination Anxiety
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Published on: January 20, 2012

Vulnerability to mental contamination.

Joanna K Herba1, S Rachman

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4. jherba@psych.ubc.ca

Behaviour Research and Therapy
|September 4, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Mental contamination, feeling dirty without physical contact, is heightened by non-consensual sexual imagery. Fear of contamination and disgust sensitivity predict these feelings and the urge to wash.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Mental Health
  • Trauma Studies

Background:

  • Mental contamination involves feelings of impurity without physical contact.
  • It is frequently observed in sexual assault survivors, manifesting as a desire to wash.
  • Understanding factors influencing mental contamination is crucial for therapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate variables predicting vulnerability to mental contamination.
  • To examine the impact of imagined non-consensual sexual experiences on feelings of contamination.
  • To identify psychological predictors of mental contamination and associated behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • 100 female undergraduates imagined a forced kiss; 20 controls imagined a consensual kiss.
  • Participants completed questionnaires assessing contact contamination fear, disgust sensitivity, anxiety sensitivity, and fear of negative evaluation.

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  • Behavioral responses, such as washing, were observed.

    • Main Results:

    • The non-consensual condition reported significantly higher feelings of dirtiness and urge to wash compared to the consensual condition.
    • Contact contamination fear and disgust sensitivity predicted feelings of dirtiness.
    • Contact contamination fear predicted the urge to wash.
    • Prior unwanted sexual contact predicted spontaneous washing behavior.

    Conclusions:

    • Imagining non-consensual sexual experiences can induce significant mental contamination.
    • Specific psychological traits, including contamination fear and disgust sensitivity, increase vulnerability.
    • Findings have implications for understanding and treating trauma-related mental contamination.