The relationship between insight and uncertainty in obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Psychopathology. 2011-01-01; 44(4): 272-276
DOI: 10.1159/000323607
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<i>Background:</i> The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the levels of insight and checking-related uncertainty in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). <i>Sampling and Methods:</i> Twenty OCD patients with checking compulsions and without current comorbidity were recruited. We used an experimental paradigm that gave subjects the opportunity to check during a decision-making task, thereby allowing for the calculation of a response time index (RTI) as the ‘uncertainty cost’ during decision-making. The level of insight was assessed with the Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale (BABS). <i>Results:</i> Regression analyses indicated a significant positive correlation between RTI and BABS scores (r = 0.49). <i>Conclusions:</i> The level of insight is related to cognitive characteristics underlying OCD symptoms, in particular, checking-related uncertainty in checking OCD patients. <i>Study Limitations:</i> The absence of a comparison group and the low number of included patients are the main limitations of the present study.