This article presents two studies that examine the hypothesis that obsessive-compulsive (OC) tendencies are associated with a general deficiency in subjective conviction, which leads to seeking and reliance on external proxies to compensate for that deficiency. We examined this hypothesis using a biofeedback-aided relaxation procedure. In Study 1 low OC participants performed better on a relaxation task than high OC participants. More importantly, viewing the biofeedback monitor (an external proxy for the internal state of relaxation) had a different effect on the two groups: Whereas high OC participants performed better, low OC participants did not. In addition, when given the opportunity, high OC participants requested the biofeedback monitor more than did the low OC participants. In Study 2 high OC participants were more affected by false biofeedback when judging their level of relaxation compared to low OC participants. Real relaxation level differences between the two false biofeedback phases among the two groups were not found. These results provide preliminary support for the hypothesis that obsessive-compulsive disorder is associated with deficient subjective conviction in internal states and increased reliance on external proxies. Implications for the understanding of OCD-related rules and rituals as well as for cognitive therapy for OCD are discussed.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2010.02.007 | DOI Listing |
J Cereb Blood Flow Metab
January 2025
Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK.
To what extent sildenafil, a selective inhibitor of the type-5 phosphodiesterase modulates systemic redox status and cerebrovascular function during acute exposure to hypoxia remains unknown. To address this, 12 healthy males (aged 24 ± 3 y) participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study involving exposure to both normoxia and acute (60 min) hypoxia (Fi = 0.14), followed by oral administration of 50 mg sildenafil and placebo (double-blinded).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAge Ageing
January 2025
Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Background: A mobile cognition scale for community screening in cognitive impairment with rigorous validation is in paucity. We aimed to develop a digital scale that overcame low education for community screening for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD.
Methods: A mobile cognitive self-assessment scale (CogSAS) was designed through the Delphi process, which is feasible for the older population with low education.
HIV Res Clin Pract
December 2025
Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), La Jolla, CA, USA.
Background: HIV remains a major challenge in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, particularly for young women who face disproportionate risks and barriers to prevention and treatment. Most HIV cure trials, however, occur in high-income countries.
Objective: To examine the perspectives of young women diagnosed with acute HIV in a longitudinal study, focusing on their perceptions on ATI-inclusive HIV cure trials and the barriers and facilitators to participation.
Virol J
January 2025
Medi-X Pingshan, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518118, China.
Background: SHEN26 (ATV014) is an oral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) inhibitor with potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. Safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic characteristics were verified in a Phase I study. This phase II study aimed to verify the efficacy and safety of SHEN26 in COVID-19 patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMalar J
January 2025
PATH, 2201 Westlake Ave Ste 200, Seattle, WA, 98121, USA.
Background: The World Health Organization conditionally recommends reactive drug administration to reduce malaria transmission in settings approaching elimination. However, few studies have evaluated the impact of reactive focal drug administration (rFDA) in sub-Saharan Africa, and none have evaluated it under programmatic conditions. In 2016, Senegal's national malaria control programme introduced rFDA, the presumptive treatment of compound members of a person with confirmed malaria, and reactive mass focal drug administration (rMFDA), an expanded effort including neighbouring compounds during an outbreak, in 10 low transmission districts in the north of the country.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!