Metacognition and obsessive-compulsive symptoms: The contribution of thought- fusion beliefs and beliefs about rituals

In the metacognitive model of obsessive-compulsive disorder (Wells, 1997), two belief domains are central: (1) metacognitive beliefs about the meaning of thoughts (thought-fusion beliefs) and (2) beliefs about the need to perform rituals. The present study had two aims: (1) to replicate studies which have demonstrated that thought-fusion beliefs and beliefs about rituals each contribute to symptoms; and (2) to determine the best predictors of symptoms among the subtypes of metacognition. 177 students provided cross-sectional data on thought-fusion beliefs, beliefs about rituals, worry, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Thought-fusion beliefs and beliefs about rituals each contributed uniquely to symptoms. Thought-action fusion, thought-object fusion, and beliefs that rituals prevent anxiety predicted both symptom frequency and distress. There was some specificity in beliefs about rituals depending on whether the outcome variable was distress or frequency.