INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP OF THOUGHT FUSION BELIEFS AND THOUGHT CONTROL STRATEGIES WITH OBSESSIVE- COMPULSIVE SYMPTOMS IN NONCLINICAL POPULATION

The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between thought fusion beliefs and thought control strategies with obsessive-compulsive symptoms in nonclinical population. This study was conducted on 420 students of Tabriz University. All participants completed thought fusion instrument (TFI), the thought control questionnaire (TCQ) and Maudsley obsessive compulsive inventory (MOCI). The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis. The analysis of the data reflected that thought fusion beliefs and thought control strategies were positively correlated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms in nonclinical population. In regression analysis TFI subscales, positive beliefs about thought action fusion belief were the strongest predictors of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Among the subscales of thought control strategies, worry was the strongest predictors of obsessive- compulsive symptoms. Therefore the results of the present study supports the meta-cognitive model of obsessive compulsive disorder and proves that thought fusion beliefs and thought control strategies can be effective in onset and continuity of OCD.