Increased attention allocation to stimuli reflecting end-states of compulsive behaviors among obsessive compulsive individuals

Abstract

Attentional research in OCD has focused solely on threat stimuli, assumed to provoke related obsessions and ensuing compulsions. OCD-related stimuli depicting the completion of compulsive acts ("end-states") have yet to be examined. Past research also neglected to explore the reliability of tasks used. Here, attention allocation to both stimuli types was examined. Participants with high (HOC) and low (LOC) levels of obsessive-compulsive symptoms freely viewed three blocks of 30 two-by-two picture matrices, each including two OCD-related (cleaning\checking\ordering) and two neutral pictures, presented for eight seconds, while their gaze was recorded. Participants completed two task versions - one with traditional threat stimuli and one with novel stimuli signaling compulsions end-states. Only the end-state version yielded significant results, showing that HOC participants, compared to LOC participants, spent significantly more time fixating on OCD-related stimuli. Results remained significant after controlling for anxiety, stress, and depression. Task reliability was high. OCD-related stimuli signaling end-states of compulsive behavior should be incorporated in attentional research in OCD.

Figure 1

An example of a single matrix for the (a) traditional stimuli block; and (b) end-state stimuli block [Checking block (left), cleaning block (middle); ordering block (right)]. In each matrix each type of stimuli comprises a separate area of interest (AOI).

Figure 2

Total dwell time (in seconds) by Area of interest (AOI) and Group collapsed across blocks: (a) the traditional stimuli condition; and (b) the end-state stimuli condition. Error bars denote standard error of the mean. OCD obsessive–compulsive disorder, HOC high obsessive–compulsive tendencies, LOC low obsessive–compulsive tendencies.