Why am I craving? The role of elaboration on ambiguous desire states.

We examined how attributions of broad ambiguous desire symptoms (eg, irritability) and elaborations on specific substances (ie, caffeine/food) influence subsequent self-reported cravings for these substances. 346 undergraduates were randomized to attribute their ambiguous desire symptoms to a lack of caffeine, food, or a vacation (active control), and then elaborate on the assigned stimulus. There was also a no-elaboration control group.

Do you believe in magical thinking? Examining magical thinking as a mediator between obsessive-compulsive belief domains and symptoms.

Background: Despite substantial research attention on obsessive beliefs, more research is needed to understand how these beliefs serve as aetiological or maintaining factors for obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms. Magical thinking may allow individuals to gain a sense of control when experiencing intrusive thoughts and corresponding obsessive beliefs, potentially accounting for why OC belief domains are often related to OC symptoms.

Aims: This study examines magical thinking as a mediating variable in the relationship between OC belief domains and symptoms.