A network approach to understanding obsessions and compulsions

Berle, D; Starcevic, V; Wootton, B; Arnáez, S; Baggio, S

A network approach to understanding obsessions and compulsions

Berle, D

Starcevic, V Wootton, B

Arnáez, S Baggio, S

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 2023, 36, pp. 100786
Issue Date:: 2023-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Berle, D https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4861-2220
dc.contributor.author	Starcevic, V
dc.contributor.author	Wootton, B https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9036-0699
dc.contributor.author	Arnáez, S
dc.contributor.author	Baggio, S
dc.date.accessioned	2023-09-01T03:27:25Z
dc.date.available	2023-09-01T03:27:25Z
dc.date.issued	2023-01-01
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 2023, 36, pp. 100786
dc.identifier.issn	2211-3649
dc.identifier.issn	2211-3657
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/171866
dc.description.abstract	Background: Efforts to understand the constellation of symptoms in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have typically relied on models where latent variable(s) are assumed to underlie all symptoms. In contrast, a network approach does not assume that there are underlying latent variables and allows for the possibility that clusters of symptoms may mutually reinforce each other. We aimed to determine whether obsessions and compulsions formed a coherent and mutually reinforcing network of symptoms. Method: 400 participants were recruited online and administered the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R). A network analysis was computed using an Extended Bayesian Information Criterion estimator. Results: There were five communities of symptoms: 1. A mixed contamination and checking community, 2. An ordering/arranging community, 3. A superstitious/counting/repeating community, 4. A mixed hoarding and checking community, and 5. An intrusive thoughts community. In the accuracy check, edges displayed wide confidence intervals, indicating that edges’ strength could not be interpreted. Additional analyses at the level of OCI-R subscales indicated that checking was significantly more central than other subscales in the network. Conclusions: Obsessions and compulsions may be related in a mutually reinforcing way, thereby constituting OCD as a psychopathological entity. Prospective investigations are needed to ascertain the directionality of relationships in the network.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.jocrd.2023.100786
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1103 Clinical Sciences, 1701 Psychology
dc.subject.classification	5201 Applied and developmental psychology
dc.subject.classification	5202 Biological psychology
dc.subject.classification	5203 Clinical and health psychology
dc.title	A network approach to understanding obsessions and compulsions
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	36
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences
utslib.for	1701 Psychology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health/GSH.Clinical Psychology
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2023-09-01T03:27:24Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	36

Abstract:

Background: Efforts to understand the constellation of symptoms in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have typically relied on models where latent variable(s) are assumed to underlie all symptoms. In contrast, a network approach does not assume that there are underlying latent variables and allows for the possibility that clusters of symptoms may mutually reinforce each other. We aimed to determine whether obsessions and compulsions formed a coherent and mutually reinforcing network of symptoms. Method: 400 participants were recruited online and administered the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R). A network analysis was computed using an Extended Bayesian Information Criterion estimator. Results: There were five communities of symptoms: 1. A mixed contamination and checking community, 2. An ordering/arranging community, 3. A superstitious/counting/repeating community, 4. A mixed hoarding and checking community, and 5. An intrusive thoughts community. In the accuracy check, edges displayed wide confidence intervals, indicating that edges’ strength could not be interpreted. Additional analyses at the level of OCI-R subscales indicated that checking was significantly more central than other subscales in the network. Conclusions: Obsessions and compulsions may be related in a mutually reinforcing way, thereby constituting OCD as a psychopathological entity. Prospective investigations are needed to ascertain the directionality of relationships in the network.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/171866