The relationship of inferential confusion and obsessive beliefs with specific obsessive-compulsive symptoms

This study aimed to investigate the specificity of inferential confusion and obsessive beliefs to symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The construct of inferential confusion is grounded in an Inference-Based Approach (IBA) to the study of OCD, which maintains that dysfunctional reasoning plays a central role in its development, whereas other cognitive models have emphasized the role of obsessive beliefs in the escalation of intrusive thoughts into obsessions. To investigate the role of inferential confusion and obsessive beliefs, a group of individuals diagnosed with OCD (N = 296) completed the Inferential Confusion Questionnaire (ICQ-EV) and the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ-44). As expected, inferential confusion and obsessive beliefs uniquely predicted OCD symptoms. Specifically, importance and control of thoughts was particularly relevant to obsessions, perfectionism and certainty to precision, and just right and inferential confusion to indecision and rumination. Beliefs about responsibility and threat did not uniquely predict any symptoms of OCD. Results are discussed in terms of future avenues for research, and how an investigation of cognitive constructs that are not explicitly represented in the OBQ-44 may help to further inform and refine cognitive models of OCD.