The Comparison of Attentional Bias for OCD-Related Stimuli in Individuals with and without OCD

Introduction. Previous research has led to conflicting findings on whether patients with subclinical or clinical Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) share an attentional bias for stimulies that are related to their current concerns, a finding that has been observed in other anxiety disorders. Objectives. The present study aimed to determine whether there was a difference in attentional bias for an OCD-related stimuli between individuals with and without OCD. Participants. 30 OCD patients (Mean age = 24; SD = 4.45) were compared with 30 healthy controls (Mean age = 24.66; SD = 2.24) on their performance on an emotional Stroop paradigm. Results. Compared with the controls, OCD patients showed attentional bias for OCD-related stimulus. Conclusion. The results suggested that OCD individuals have problems in ignoring stimulies that are related to their pathology. The bias may play an important role in the etiology and treatment of OCD.