The effects of the non-contingent presentation of safety signals on the elimination of safety behaviors: An experimental comparison between individuals with low and high obsessive-compulsive profiles

Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
Ioannis Angelakis, Jennifer L Austin

Abstract

Safety behaviors, defined as engagement in avoidance within safe environments, are a key symptom of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. They may interfere with daily functioning and as such their emission should be reduced. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the effects of the non-contingent presentation of safety signals (cues produced by safety behaviors) on reducing safety behaviors in participants self-reporting low and high OCD profiles. In total, 32 participants were asked to play a game to gain points and avoid their loss. After having developed avoidance behavior, evidenced by maintaining all of their earned points, they were exposed to safe environments where no point loss was programmed. In Test 1, safety cues (blue bar) were produced contingent on performing safety behaviors. In Test 2, safety cues were presented continuously without any response requirement. Findings demonstrated that high OCD group displayed higher rates of safety behaviors than low OCD group. However, exposure to the non-contingent presentation of safety signals eliminated their emission in both groups. Future studies need to evaluate the effects of different non-contingent schedules on the suppression of safety behaviors. ...Continue Reading

Citations

Sep 26, 2019·Suicide & Life-threatening Behavior·Ioannis Angelakis, Patricia Gooding
Mar 7, 2021·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Sarah M TashjianDean Mobbs
Apr 19, 2021·Journal of Psychiatric Research·Ioannis Angelakis, Foteini Pseftogianni
Jun 30, 2021·Suicide & Life-threatening Behavior·Ioannis Angelakis, Patricia Gooding

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Anxiety Disorders

Discover the latest research on anxiety disorders including agoraphobia, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder here.