2025/03/21 by Claudia Bischof, Nicola Hohensee, Fanny Alexandra Dietel +3
Medicine · Psychology · #Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes #Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies #CLARITY #Clinical psychology #Cognitive psychology #Developmental psychology #Dynamics (music) #Medicine #Obsessive compulsive #Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders #Psychoanalysis #Psychology #Public health #Quality of Life Research
paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/s10608-025-10595-0
crossref issued 2025/03/21 · crossref published 2025/03/21 · crossref published-online 2025/03/21 · openalex publication_date 2025/03/21 · crossref created 2025/03/22 · crossref deposited 2025/09/19 · crossref published-print 2025/10/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · crossref indexed 2026/08/05 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Abstract Background The level of insight finds increasing consideration in the diagnostic of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Past studies illustrated that low levels of insight are associated with higher symptom severity, worse treatment outcome, and emotion regulation (ER) deficits. However, these results are based on retrospective questionnaires categorizing insight as a trait construct, although the temporal variability of insight has long been established. Therefore, studies using repeated measures designs, i.e., ecological momentary assessment (EMA), are needed. Method Within this EMA study, N = 71 individuals with OCD reported on their symptoms, affect, emotional clarity, ER strategies, perceived ER effectiveness, and insight into symptoms up to six times a day over six days. Results Substantial temporal variations of insight during the assessment period strengthen former evidence that individuals vary in their level of insight over time. Further, higher levels of insight were partly associated with higher perceived ER effectiveness and emotional clarity. Significant associations between symptom occurrence and less insight were consistently found at the momentary level. Conclusions Results show that it might be worthwhile to address insight as a variable state as well as associated constructs (ER, emotional clarity) in the treatment of OCD more explicitly. Replication and extension of our work is needed.