Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0438-9351
Defense Date
2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Clinical Psychology
First Advisor
Ann Haynos, PhD
Second Advisor
Kelsey Hagan, PhD
Third Advisor
Jared Keeley, PhD
Abstract
Cognitive and behavioral rigidity is observed across several mental disorders and is a defining characteristic of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD), a highly prevalent and debilitating, yet understudied, disorder. In particular, treatments for OCPD are underdeveloped due to our poor understanding of the mechanisms leading to the disorder’s key feature of rigidity. Two related disorders, anorexia nervosa (AN) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), have shown distinct mechanistic pathways leading to symptoms of rigidity, indicating that this trait can arise as a result of a number of differentially impaired cognitive processes, each requiring unique interventions. To examine the relationship between symptoms of OCPD and abnormalities in the decision-making processes which may manifest in rigidity, participants (n=83) completed the Web-Surf task, a novel decision-making paradigm, in addition to the Five-Factor Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (FFOCI-SF), a self-reported continuous measure of OCPD traits. Results indicated that, similar to the pattern observed in AN, OCPD traits predicted heightened selectivity relative to reward (p = .009). In addition, OCPD traits predicted accelerated behavioral adaptation following experiences of cost or reward (p < .001), which deviated from patterns expected in AN and OCD. An exploratory analysis revealed decreased selectivity relative to cost among individuals with the highest OCPD traits (p = .016). Results further indicated that specific OCPD trait domains, particularly conscientiousness, may be influenced by distinct aberrations in these decision-making processes. Our findings provide valuable insight into shared mechanisms between OCPD and AN as well as the distinction between OCPD and OCD. Implications for treatments and directions for future research are discussed.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-7-2024