Early Maladaptive Schemas and Metacognitive Beliefs in People with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder and Normal People

Intrusive and repetitive thoughts are fundamental components in Obsessive - Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Obsessive- Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD). Cognitive structures, schemas and people’s evaluations of their thoughts have consistently drawn the attention of clinical psychologists. Thus, purpose of the present study was to compare early maladaptive schemas and metacognition beliefs in people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder and normal people.
The Causal- Comparative research method was used in the present study. The sample population consisted of 385 students selectedthrough random cluster sampling and the study was conducted on sample of 127 subjects (including 35 subjects with OCD, 39 subjects with OCPD, and 53 normal subjects. In the first step, all participants filled out Obsessive–Compulsive Inventory- Revised (OCI-R), Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (Subscale of OCPD),Young Schema Questionnaire- short form (YSQ), Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ-30) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). In the second phase, participants who gained the necessary scores (127 persons) were interviewed.
The MANOVA test results showed that mean scores in all areas of early maladaptive schemas in the clinical study was significantly higher than normal subjects and among people with OCD are significantly higher than other groups. The same result was also seen in term of metacognition beliefs, positive beliefs, uncontrollability and danger, cognitive confidence and cognitive self-consciousness subscales.
Generally considering earlymaladaptive schemas and meta-cognitive beliefs may provide better understanding of OCD and OCPD.