Thought-action fusion across anxiety disorder diagnoses: specificity and treatment effects

J Nerv Ment Dis. 2013 May;201(5):407-13. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0b013e31828e102c.

Abstract

Thought-action fusion (TAF) is a cognitive error that has been frequently investigated within the context of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, evidence suggests that this error may also be present in disorders other than OCD, indicating that TAF is related to higher order factors rather than a specific diagnosis. We explored TAF in a sample of patients with mixed diagnoses undergoing treatment with a transdiagnostic CBT protocol. Elevated TAF levels at baseline were not specific to patients with OCD. However, the presence of any generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) diagnosis was unexpectedly the strongest predictor of likelihood TAF. Likelihood TAF, a particular component of TAF, was reduced after transdiagnostic treatment, and this reduction was not affected by the presence of a GAD diagnosis. Results indicate that TAF is responsive to treatment and should be assessed and, perhaps, treated in disorders beyond OCD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis
  • Anxiety Disorders / psychology*
  • Anxiety Disorders / therapy
  • Cognition
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interview, Psychological
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / psychology
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / therapy
  • Panic Disorder / psychology
  • Panic Disorder / therapy
  • Phobic Disorders / psychology
  • Phobic Disorders / therapy
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Psychological Tests
  • Young Adult