The influence of Experiential Avoidance and Cognitive Fusion in people diagnosed with Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia and OCD

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55414/ap.v41i2.1548

Keywords:

Experiential Avoidance, Cognitive Fusion, Panic Disorder, Obserssive Compulsive Disorder, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Abstract

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) highlights the importance of experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion in a wide spectrum of psychological problems. The purpose of this study is to know how the severity of panic disorder and agoraphobia (APT) and the severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) influence levels of experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion. It is also intended to examine whether there are differences between the two diagnostic groups. The sample consisted of 67 people diagnosed with APT and OCD. The following assessment instruments were used: Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ), Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ), Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The results showed that patients with APT present higher levels of cognitive fusion compared to patients with OCD, that high levels of anxiety are associated with a higher degree of experiential avoidance, and that greater severity of OCD correlated with high levels of experiential avoidance and fusion cognitive. Early intervention in OCD patients is proposed to prevent the chronicity of the disorder and the importance of the acceptance aspects is emphasized in the course of therapy of these patients.

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References

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Published

12/06/2023 — Updated on 13/10/2023

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How to Cite

Mellado-Pastor, S., del-Río-Sánchez, C., & Pastor-Morales, J. (2023). The influence of Experiential Avoidance and Cognitive Fusion in people diagnosed with Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia and OCD. Apuntes De Psicología, 41(2), 69-75. https://doi.org/10.55414/ap.v41i2.1548 (Original work published 2023)

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