Components of attentional biases in contamination fear: Evidence for difficulty in disengagement

Attentional bias for threat has been implicated in the contamination fear (CF) subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder, but the components of the bias (facilitated attention versus difficulty in disengagement) and the stage of processing during which the bias occurs (early versus late stage of processing) remains unclear. Further, it is unclear whether attentional biases in CF are towards fear or disgust-related stimuli. The present study examined attentional biases in a group of individuals selected to have elevated CF (n = 23) and a control group (n = 28) using the spatial cueing task. Stimuli were neutral, disgusting, or frightening pictures presented for either 100 or 500 ms. Results revealed evidence for delayed disengagement from both fear and disgust stimuli in the CF group, but not in the control group. The effect appeared to be greater at 500 ms stimulus presentation, but did not appear to differ between fear and disgust stimuli. The CF group was associated with delayed disengagement from threat even when controlling for generic response slowing. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.