Abstract

Current cognitive-behavior (appraisal) models ascertain that catastrophic interpretations of (normally occurring) intrusive thoughts are causal to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms. While these models have received extensive support, various empirical findings challenge predictions made by these models. Recently, several researchers have suggested that compulsions may be viewed as habitual or stimulus-driven behaviors. In the current talk, two mechanisms that possibly underlie the tendency of people with OCD to perform stimulus-driven behaviors will be examined: inhibitory deficits, and increased action tendencies. Experimental evidence that supports the suggestion that these processes may interact with each other to produce symptoms will be presented, and the conditions under which such vulnerability may be most prominent will be discussed. Furthermore, clinical implications of these processes will be proposed.