The relationship between alexithymia, cognitive avoidance, and distress tolerance with the dimensions of obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between alexithymia, cognitive avoidance, and distress tolerance with obsessive-compulsive symptoms. A total of 150 students (105 girls and 45 boys) from the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad participated in this research. The participants were asked to complete the Persian version of the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS -20), the Cognitive Avoidance Scale (CAQ), the Distress Tolerance Questionnaire (DTS), Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI), and demographic data questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and stepwise regression. The highest correlation relationships were between Obsessive-Compulsive with a total score of Alexithymia (r=0.43), the total score of Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire (r=0.39), the total score of Distress Tolerance Scale (r=-0.43), Checking sub-scale of Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (r=0.71), Cleaning sub-scale of Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (r=0.75), Slowness sub-scale of Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (r=0.48) and Doubting sub-scale of Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (r=0.68). This study showed that the subscales of cleanliness, revision, hesitation, and slowness of obsessive-compulsive disorder and emotional dyslexia, distress tolerance, and cognitive avoidance have the greatest contribution in predicting obsessive-compulsive disorder. The results from the present study highlight the need to pay attention to these variables in the research and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder.