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Non-clinical obsessions in a young adolescent population: frequency and association with metacognitive variables
Jenny Crye1, Ben Laskey, Sam Cartwright-Hatton
1University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Objectives:
Little is known about normal obsessions in adolescence. This study examined the frequency and content of intrusions in adolescence, and a number of process variables that have been associated with obsessions in adults.
Design And Methods:
Sixty-two adolescents (aged 12-14 years) participated. They completed measures of obsessions and metacognitive beliefs. They were interviewed about recent episodes of obsessional thought, including content, frequency, acceptability, distress, dismissibilty, interference, and avoidance.
Results:
Seventy-seven per cent of participants reported obsessions. Frequency, distress, dismissibility, acceptability, interference, and avoidance, were associated with metacognitive appraisals.
Conclusions:
Obsessions are a normal experience in adolescence and are associated with metacognitive appraisals in the same way as for adults, indicating that adult models may be relevant for this younger population.
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