The specificity of belief domains in obsessive–compulsive symptom subtypes

The aim of this study was to investigate specificity of belief domains in obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) symptom subtypes (rumination, impulse phobia, washing, checking, precision and non-specific). One hundred and twenty-six OCD participants completed the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ-44) and the Padua Inventory prior to treatment. Analyses of covariance revealed that the participants in the rumination symptom subtype scored higher on Importance/Control of Thoughts than the participants in the washing subtype when we controlled for anxiety. This difference was nearly significant when we controlled for depression. Regression analyses controlling for negative mood states revealed that Responsibility/Threat Estimation predicted rumination scores, Perfectionism/Certainty predicted checking and precision scores, and Importance/Control of Thoughts predicted impulse phobia scores. Implications for future research and treatment are discussed.