Metacognitions in obsessive compulsive disorder: A comparative study

Pages: 14-20
Anamika Passi (Department of Psychology , Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab)
Gurminder Sokhey (Department of Psychology , Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab)

The present investigation attempted to compare the Metacognitions of OCD patients and normal controls along with gender differences. The sample comprised 150 OCD patients (Males= 75, Females= 75) & 150 Normal Controls (Males= 75, Females= 75) in the age range of 20 to 35 years. OCD patients were randomly selected from OPDs of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana. While Normal Controls were selected from the general population, i.e., friends, colleagues from colleges and university, Ludhiana. All the subjects were matched on gender, age and education status. Inclusion criteria for OCD and Normal Controls: Patients who were clinically diagnosed by the consultant in charge of the Hospital on the basis of various clinical investigations as suffering from OCD and attending OPD regularly were selected. Any patient having comorbidity was excluded from the study. A self-reporting questionnaire was used as a screening measure for obtaining normal control sample. A 2*2 factorial design with equal numbers was applied with 2 levels of disease and 2 levels of gender. Results revealed significant difference between OCD patients and Normal Controls on various dimensions of Metacognition, i.e., positive beliefs about worry, negative beliefs about the uncontrollability of thoughts, cognitive confidence, General negative beliefs about thoughts and cognitive self-consciousness. Female OCD Patients were found to be significantly higher on all the dimensions of Metacognition than male OCD patients and normal controls though these gender differences were not significant for positive belief about worry.