Examination of perception of threat from emotion as mechanisms underlying the relationship between obsessive compulsive symptom dimensions and anxiety symptoms

The present study examined the mediating role of perceived threats from anxiety in the relationships among trait anxiety, state anxiety, and the obsessive–compulsive symptom dimension in obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD).

Patients with OCD (N = 170) completed scales assessing trait and state anxiety, OCD dimensions symptom severity, and perceived threat from anxiety with mediation analyses.

Perceived threat from anxiety appears to be a significant mediator between trait anxiety and harm and unacceptable thoughts symptom dimensions; perceived threat from anxiety had minimal power as a mediator in the relationship between trait anxiety and in the contamination or symmetry dimensions. However, there were no significant relationships between state anxiety and harm and mistakes, unacceptable thoughts or symmetry dimensions except for the contamination dimension.

The findings from our study indicate the significance of perceived threats of anxiety as a mediator function between trait anxiety and OCD symptom dimensions, which may be a maintenance factor. Enhancing the recognition of the role of cognitive mechanisms in the association between trait anxiety rather than state anxiety and different obsessive–compulsive symptom dimensions could contribute to the development of dimension-specific interventions.