Background/Objective Unwanted mental intrusions (UMIs) are the normal variants of obsessions in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), preoccupations about defects in Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), images about illness in Hypochondriasis (HYP), and thoughts about eating in Eating Disorders (EDs). The aim was to examine the similarities and differences in the functional links of four UMI contents, adopting a within-subject perspective. Method: 438 university students and community participants (M_age = 29.84, SD = 11.41; 70.54% women) completed the Questionnaire of Unpleasant Intrusive Thoughts (QUIT) to assess the functional links (emotions, appraisals, and neutralizing/control strategies) of the most upsetting UMIs with OCD, BDD, HYP and EDs-contents. Results: HYP-related intrusions caused the highest emotional impact, OCD-related intrusions were the most interfering, and EDs-related intrusions interfered the least. The four UMI were equally ego-dystonic. Women appraised OCD-related intrusions more dysfunctionally, but men appraised the four intrusive contents similarly. All UMI instigated the urge to “do something”, to keep them under control and/or neutralizing them. Conclusions: Similarities among the functional links of intrusions related to OCD, BDD, HYP and EDs contents support their transdiagnostic nature and they might contribute to understanding common factors in these disorders. Antecedentes/Objetivo Las intrusiones mentales no deseadas (IM) son la variante normativa de obsesiones en el Trastorno Obsesivo-Compulsivo (TOC), preocupaciones por defectos en el Trastorno Dismórfico Corporal (TDC), imágenes sobre enfermedad en Hipocondría (TH) y pensamientos sobre alimentación en los Trastornos Alimentarios (TA). El objetivo fue examinar similitudes y diferencias en las relaciones funcionales de los cuatro contenidos de IM, adoptando una perspectiva intra-sujeto. Método: 438 estudiantes universitarios y participantes de la comunidad (M_edad = 29,84; DT = 11,41; 70,54% mujeres) completaron el Inventario de Pensamientos Intrusos Desagradables, que evalúa las relaciones funcionales (emociones, valoraciones y estrategias de neutralización/control) de las IM más molestas con contenidos TOC, TDC, TH y TA. Resultados: Las IM-TH evocaron más emociones negativas, las IM-TOC fueron las que más interfirieron y las IM-TA las que menos. Todas fueron igualmente egodistónicas. Las IM-TOC fueron las más disfuncionalmente valoradas por las mujeres, pero los hombres valoraron los cuatro contenidos de forma similar. Todas las IM promovieron la necesidad de “hacer algo” para controlarla/neutralizarla. Conclusiones: Las similitudes en las relaciones funcionales de intrusiones relacionadas con contenidos del TOC, el TDC, el TH y los TA apoyan su naturaleza transdiagnóstica, pudiendo contribuir a la comprensión de los factores comunes entre esos trastornos.

Unwanted mental intrusions (UMI) constitute the normal variants of obsessions in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), preoccupations about defects in Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), images about illness in Hypochondriasis (HYP), and thoughts about eating in Eating Disorders (EDs). We sought to investigate the relationships between frequency and discomfort associated with the experience of the four UMI contents, adopting a within-subject perspective. A group of 438 university students and community participants (Mage= 29.84, SD= 11.41; 70.54% women), completed the Questionnaire of Unpleasant Intrusive Thoughts to assess the frequency and discomfort of four UMI contents related to OCD, BDD, HYP and EDs. Just over 76% of participants reported having experienced the four sets of intrusions. The ED-related were the most frequent but the least disturbing, whereas HYP intrusions were the least frequent but the most disturbing. The four UMI were significantly related to each other, both in frequency and discomfort. Women experienced OCD, BDD, and ED-related intrusions more frequently than men. Age was negatively associated with the frequency and distress of the four UMIs. UMIs might be a transdiagnostic variable across different disorders such as OCD, BDD, EDs, and Hypochondriasis, and they might contribute to explaining the phenomenological similarities among them.

Unwanted mental intrusions (UMIs) with contents related to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Illness Anxiety Disorder (IAD), and Eating Disorders (EDs) are highly prevalent, independently of the cultural and/or social context. Cognitive-behavioral explanations for these disorders postulates that the escalation from common UMIs to clinically relevant symptoms depends on the maladaptive consequences (i.e., emotions, appraisals, and control strategies) of experiencing UMIs. This study examines, from a cross-cultural perspective, the cognitive-behavioral postulates of the maladaptive consequences of having UMIs. Non-clinical 1,473 participants from Europe, the Middle-East, and South America completed the Questionnaire of Unpleasant Intrusive Thoughts to assess the maladaptive consequences of experiencing highly disturbing OCD, BDD, IAD, and EDs-related UMIs. Findings revealed main effects for both the country and the consequences associated with the four UMI contents. Interaction effects between the consequences of each UMI content and the sample location were also observed. Cognitive-Behavioral models for OCD, BDD, IAD, and EDs should be implemented along with socio-cultural variables that increase the understanding of the role of these variables in the phenomenology of UMIs and their associated consequences.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in eHealth interventions as a means of reducing risk factors related to eating disorders (EDs). However, these interventions are often faced with high dropout rates and low adherence. The objective of this study was to analyze the usability and acceptability of GGED-AD, a mobile app designed to reduce cognitive risk factors associated with EDs in adolescents. The study involved 42 adolescents (61.9% female) with a mean age of 13.98 years, and employed a convergent mixed-methods approach. The results indicate that GGED-AD has satisfactory usability and acceptability-it was considered easy to use, attractive, encouraging of positive behaviors, and was perceived as useful by the participants. However, certain difficulties were observed, such as in understanding some specific content. Consequently, this study offers valuable insights for improving the design of GGED-AD and of similar eHealth interventions, with the objective of enhancing their potential for adoption in "real world" settings.

Background. Cognitive-behavioral theories suggest that obsessions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) develop from maladaptive misinterpretations and coping strategies of unwanted intrusive thoughts (UITs). Models of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Illness Anxiety Disorder (IAD) propose that these symptoms stem from similar misinterpretations of common UITs relating to perceived defects in appearance and illness. This study examines whether maladaptive misinterpretations and control strategies leading to the escalation of obsessional UITs to OCD symptoms also have a similar effect on the development of BDD and IAD. More specifically, we examined whether misinterpretations and neutralizing responses mediate the associations between the frequency of disorder-specific UITs and symptoms of these disorders. Method. A total of 625 non-clinical participants from four countries completed the Questionnaire of Unpleasant Intrusive Thoughts (QUIT) that assesses OCD, BDD and IAD-related UITs and their associated misinterpretations and neutralizing strategies, as well as self-report measures of OCD, BDD, and IAD symptoms. Parallel multiple mediation models were conducted. Results. The frequency of OCD, BDD and IAD-related UITs predicted symptoms of each disorder. Dysfunctional appraisals and neutralizing behaviors mediated the associations between disorder-specific UITs and symptoms in OCD and IAD. The IAD model accounted for a smaller proportion of variance than the OCD model. No mediating effects were found for BDD symptoms. Conclusions. Experiencing disturbing UITs is a transdiagnostic risk factor of OCD, BDD and IAD, and is associated with symptoms of these disorders. Maladaptive interpretation of UITs and neutralizing strategies should be specific targets in the assessment and treatment of OCD and IAD. The absence of mediation effects for BDD could be due to the limitations observed on the self-report used to assess BDD symptoms and/or the low relevance of the misinterpretations and control strategies assessed by the QUIT, which are more typically endorsed by individuals with OCD.

Understanding common factors between clinically different disorders: Mental intrusions in the obsessivecompulsivespectrum This study examines whether the propensity to experience obsessive, dysmorphic, hypochondriac and eating-related unwanted mental intrusions (UMIs) is a common vulnerability factor for these disorders. A total of 149 university students completed the Questionnaire of Unpleasant Intrusive Thoughts (QUIT) that assesses the frequency of and disturbance caused by the four UMI contents as well as self-reports of symptoms. 26.17% of participants experienced the four UMI contents during the past three months. The scores of each UMI were related to their specific self-report of symptoms and predicted the scores on these self-reports. Among those participants who experienced the four UMIs, 61.53% were at risk of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). These subjects, compared to those who also experienced the four UMIs but were at low risk of OCD, reported more negative consequences when they experienced an UMI, regardless of its content. UMIs could be transdiagnostic and common vulnerability factors for different mental disorders. Keywords: Mental intrusions; transdiagnostic; obsessive-compulsive disorder; obsessive-compulsive spectrum. Resumen: Este estudio examina si la propensión a experimentar intrusiones mentales no deseadas (IM) con contenidos obsesivos, dismórficos, hipocondríacos y alimentarios es un factor común de vulnerabilidad para esos trastornos. Un total de 149 estudiantes universitarios completaron el Inventario de Pensamientos Intrusos Desagradables (INPIDES), que evalúa la frecuencia y el malestar con que se experimentan los cuatro contenidos de IM, junto con autoinformes de síntomas. El 26.17% había experimentado las cuatro IM en los tres meses previos. Las puntuaciones de cada IM correlacionaron con su autoinforme específico de síntomas y predijeron las puntuaciones en ellos. El 61.53% de quienes tuvieron las cuatro IM, presentó riesgo de trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo (TOC). Estas personas, comparadas con quienes también habían experimentado las cuatro IM pero tenían bajo riesgo de TOC, informaron de más consecuencias negativas cuando tenían una IM, independientemente de su contenido. Las IM podrían ser factores transdiagnósticos y de vulnerabilidad comunes a trastornos mentales distintos. Palabras clave: intrusiones mentales; transdiagnóstico; trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo; espectro obsesivo-compulsivo.