Excessive rationalisation describes a maladaptive cognitive strategy which is used by people with OCD to deal with their unwanted thoughts. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common (~2% of the population) yet debilitating mental illness. It involves distressing intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and physical or mental actions aimed at reducing distress (compulsions). Full remission from OCD is rare and relapse is common. As such, scientific research urgently needs to identify new ways forward for people with OCD. Elizabeth Kirkham, the lead researcher on this project, defined the new concept of “excessive rationalisation” through discussion with people with OCD and a review of the wider literature. Excessive rationalisation describes a maladaptive cognitive strategy which is used by people with OCD to deal with their unwanted thoughts. Simply put, it involves an attempt to explain away or argue with an unwanted OCD thought. Excessive rationalisation is similar but distinct from other psychological concepts such as rumination and cognitive reappraisal. Unlike rumination, which involves focusing on one’s distress and its causes and consequences, excessive rationalisation is grounded in an attempt to “solve” an OCD thought or problem created by OCD. Similarly, whilst cognitive reappraisal is a therapeutic technique which can help individuals to reframe their concerns in a more positive light, excessive rationalisation is repetitive and does not provide genuine relief from the OCD problem. This project is made up of two main stages: Stage 1 The first stage of this research project involved focus groups with people with lived experience of OCD. These groups allowed for the refinement and clarification of the theoretical concept of excessive rationalisation. Stage 2 The second stage of this research project involves co-producing a questionnaire which can be used to measure excessive rationalisation in people with OCD. Unlike existing measures of OCD, this tool will be co-produced by people living with the condition. This stage of research will use a Delphi study that is run with people with experience of OCD. The Delphi method is a research method designed to create new materials, such as guidance or questionnaires. It draws on the collective experience of a group of people who have expertise in a particular area (in this case, experience of using excessive rationalisation). This method is particularly useful in situations where expertise comes from people’s professional or personal experience, rather from prior literature. During the Delphi method, participants complete multiple surveys, with each survey presenting a more refined version of the new materials. Once the questionnaire measure of excessive rationalisation has been created it will be validated in a sample of participants with OCD. Funded by the Wellcome Trust Institutional Translational Partnership Award (iTPA) 5K Springboard Fund and the Wellcome Trust iTPA Translational Innovation Competition Find out more Follow us on Twitter Join our mailing list
