Common vulnerability factors in obsessive-compulsive and major depressive disorders: a transdiagnostic hierarchical model

Abstract

In recent years, the literature has shifted its focus from disorder-specific approaches to transdiagnostic factors. Transdiagnostic approaches argue that prevalent comorbidities in such psychiatric disorders as major depressive disorder (MDD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and anxiety disorder can be linked with the common personality factors and cognitive mechanisms predisposing the occurrence of such disorders. Ultimately, the present study investigated the relationship between neuroticism, perfectionism, repetitive (negative) thinking (RNT), and intolerance of uncertainty (IOU), and the symptoms of OCD and MDD. The study included a total of 197 people into three clinical groups: those diagnosed only with MDD, patients only with OCD, and those with both OCD and MDD. We administered six relevant scales to the participants. The results revealed neuroticism and perfectionism were associated with MDD symptoms through RNT and OCD symptoms through IOU. In other words, neuroticism and perfectionism explained both OCD and MDD symptoms in different ways; while IOU explained only OCD symptoms, RNT explained only MDD symptoms. The paper concluded with a discussion of the findings through theoretical implications and put forward some recommendations.