Elsevier

Journal of Anxiety Disorders

Volume 10, Issue 5, September–October 1996, Pages 379-391
Journal of Anxiety Disorders

Research paper
Thought-action fusion in obsessive compulsive disorder

https://doi.org/10.1016/0887-6185(96)00018-7Get rights and content

Abstract

Recent psychometric results suggested that the phenomenon of thought-action fusion (TAF) is implicated in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The construct of TAF has two components: (a) the belief that thinking about an unacceptable or disturbing event makes it more likely to happen and (b) the belief that having an unacceptable thought is the moral equivalent of carrying out the unacceptable or disturbing action. The construct of TAF is explored, and its relevance to responsibility and obsessive-compulsive disorder examined. A highly reliable questionnaire to measure TAF has been developed, and psychometric data obtained from two studies are presented. TAF was higher in obsessional samples than in nonobsessional samples, particularly the belief that thinking about a negative event involving other people makes the event more likely to happen.

You have heard that it was said, “Do not commit adultery”. But now I tell you: Anyone who looks at a woman and wants to possess her is guilty of committing adultery with her in his heart.

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This research was supported by a grant from the British Columbia Health Research Foundation. The first author was supported by a Wellcome Trust Prize Studentship.

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