Relationship Between Cognitive Fusion, Experiential Avoidance, and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to explore the relationship among cognitive fusion, experiential avoidance, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods: A total of 118 outpatient and inpatient patients with OCD and 109 healthy participants, gender- and age-matched, were selected using cognitive fusion questionnaire (CFQ), acceptance and action questionnaire-2nd edition (AAQ-II), Yale-Brown scale for obsessive-compulsive symptoms, Hamilton anxiety scale, and Hamilton depression scale for questionnaire testing and data analysis. Results: The levels of cognitive fusion and experiential avoidance in the OCD group were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group (P < 0.05). Regression analysis results showed that, in predicting the total score of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, AAQ-II (β = 0.233, P < 0.05) and CFQ (β = 0.262, P < 0.01) entered the equation, which explained 17.1% variance. In predicting anxiety, only AAQ-II (β = 0.222, P < 0.05) entered the equation, which explained 13% variance. In the prediction of depression, AAQ-II (β = 0.412, P < 0.001) entered the equation, which explained 17.7% variance. Conclusion: Cognitive fusion and experiential avoidance may be important factors for the maintenance of OCD, and experiential avoidance can positively predict the anxiety and depression of OCD patients.

Keywords: acceptance commitment therapy; cognitive fusion; depression; experiential avoidance; obsessive-compulsive disorder.