Are unwanted mental intrusions a transdiagnostic variable?

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Transdiagnostic Psychiatry

Background:

• Unwanted mental intrusions (UMIs) are normal variants of symptoms in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Hypochondriasis (HYP), and Eating Disorders (EDs).
• Understanding the relationships between the frequency and discomfort of these UMIs is crucial for differentiating and understanding these conditions.
• This study investigates UMIs from a within-subject perspective to explore their interconnectedness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationships between the frequency and discomfort of four types of UMIs (OCD, BDD, HYP, EDs) within individuals.
• To determine if UMIs represent a transdiagnostic variable across these specific disorders.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 438 university and community participants (Mage= 29.84, SD= 11.41; 70.54% women).
• Participants completed the Questionnaire of Unpleasant Intrusive Thoughts.
• The questionnaire assessed the frequency and discomfort of four UMI content categories: OCD, BDD, HYP, and EDs.

Main Results:

• Over 76% of participants reported experiencing all four types of intrusions.
• Eating Disorder (ED)-related intrusions were most frequent but least disturbing; Hypochondriasis (HYP) intrusions were least frequent but most disturbing.
• All four UMIs were significantly related in both frequency and discomfort. Women reported higher frequency of OCD, BDD, and ED-related intrusions than men. Age was negatively associated with UMI frequency and distress.

Conclusions:

• Unwanted mental intrusions (UMIs) may function as a transdiagnostic variable across OCD, BDD, EDs, and Hypochondriasis.
• UMIs could help explain the shared phenomenological features observed among these distinct psychological disorders.
• Further research into UMIs may offer novel therapeutic targets for related conditions.