A Comparative Study of Dysfunctional Belief, Alexithymia, And Shame & Guilt Experience Among People with and without Obsessive-Compulsive Traits

Abstract

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterised by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and the urge to perform repetitive behaviors (compulsions). A study compared dysfunctional beliefs, alexithymia, shame, and guilt between individuals with high obsessive-compulsive tendencies and those without, and examined the correlation among these factors in both groups. The study involved two groups: one with obsessive-compulsive traits (clinical group) and the other without (control group), each consisting of 35 participants. Obsessive-compulsive traits, dysfunctional beliefs, alexithymia, shame, and guilt have been calculated by utilizing the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R), Obsessional Belief Questionnaire (OBQ-44), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and State Shame and Guilt Scale (SSGS) were measured respectively. The study found that individuals with high obsessive-compulsive tendencies score significantly higher in dysfunctional beliefs, alexithymia, guilt, and shame compared to the control group.