Anxiety Sensitivity Accelerates the Temporal Changes in Obsessions and Compulsions During Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Judith M. Laposa, Lance L. Hawley, Kevin J. Grimm, Danielle E. Katz, Neil A. Rector

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Although obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is effectively treated by cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), less is known about mechanisms underlying treatment response. Anxiety sensitivity (AS) may impact symptom change (velocity) and the rate of change in velocity (acceleration) during CBT for OCD. Latent Difference Score (LDS) analysis was used to show path-analytic dynamic modelling of OCD symptom velocity and acceleration during CBT, as a function of baseline AS. Method: Eighty-four participants with a principal diagnosis of OCD completed 12 weeks of CBT group therapy, and measures assessing AS at pre-treatment, and obsession and compulsion severity at pre-treatment, sessions 4, 8, and end of treatment. Results: LDS velocity models demonstrated that higher levels of baseline AS were associated with subsequent elevations in obsessions throughout treatment, and obsession scores were temporally associated with subsequent changes in compulsion scores. An LDS acceleration model demonstrated that higher levels of baseline AS scores were associated with rapid increases in the severity of obsessions, whereas lower AS scores were associated with rapid decreases in the severity of obsessions. Discussion: These results have implications for theoretical and treatment modelling of obsessions and compulsions, as well as AS, in OCD. Conclusion: Higher levels of baseline AS negatively impact response to CBT for OCD.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1116-1131
Number of pages16
JournalCognitive Therapy and Research
Volume44
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2020

Keywords

  • Acceleration
  • Anxiety sensitivity
  • Cognitive behavior therapy
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology

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