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The Relationship Between Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms, Perfectionism, and Anxiety Sensitivity for Not Just Right Experiences

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 August 2017

Lauren D. Irwin  and
Mairwen K. Jones
Lauren D. Irwin
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Mairwen K. Jones*
Affiliation:
Discipline of Behavioural and Social Sciences in Health, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Mairwen Jones, Discipline of Behavioural and Social Sciences in Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, PO Box 170, Lidcombe NSW 1825, Australia. Email: Mairwen.Jones@sydney.edu.au
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Abstract

The obsessive-compulsive core dimensions model posits that compulsions are driven by harm avoidance, or to counteract a sense of incompleteness, known as ‘not just right experiences’ (NJREs). Evidence suggests NJREs are associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms and maladaptive perfectionism. However, manipulations of NJREs have focused on the visual system, and have not been examined in the context of arousal fears associated with anxiety sensitivity (AS). This study examined the relationship between OC symptoms, perfectionism, and AS using in vivo manipulations of NJREs across visual, auditory, and tactile sensory modalities. Using a 2 (NJRE vs. JRE) × 2 (AS vs. no AS) between-subjects design, participants (N = 132) completed behavioural tasks designed to elicit NJREs and assess task discomfort and urge to counteract sensory-specific stimuli. Strong relationships were observed between task ratings and self-report measures of NJREs, incompleteness, OCD symptoms, maladaptive perfectionism, and AS. Those in the NJRE conditions gave significantly higher task ratings compared to JRE conditions; however, there was no main effect for AS. While maladaptive perfectionism and AS were significant predictors of task performance, there was no interaction between the two. The results confirm and extend research suggesting a strong association between NJREs and incompleteness motivations, as well as sensory-affective disturbance in OCD.

Keywords

OCDanxietyperfectionismnot just right experiences
Type
Standard Papers
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 34 , Issue 3 , September 2017 , pp. 134 - 155
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2017 

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