A novel cognitive intervention for compulsive checking: Targeting maladaptive beliefs about memory

•We developed a brief cognitive intervention for maladaptive beliefs about memory.•The intervention decreased time spent checking and checking symptoms.•Decreases in maladaptive beliefs about memory were predictive of symptom reductions.•Compared to waitlist, the intervention also increased memory performance.

Background and objectivesCompulsive checking is one of the most common symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Recently it has been proposed that those who check compulsively may believe their memory is poor, rather than having an actual memory impairment. The current study sought to develop and assess a brief cognitive intervention focused on improving maladaptive beliefs about memory, as they pertain to both checking symptoms and memory performance.MethodsParticipants (N = 24) with a diagnosis of OCD and clinical levels of checking symptomatology were randomly assigned either to receive two weekly 1-hour therapy sessions or to self-monitor during a similar waitlist period. Time spent checking, checking symptoms, maladaptive beliefs about memory, and visuospatial memory were assessed both pre- and post-treatment/waitlist.ResultsResults showed that compared to the waitlist condition, individuals in the treatment condition displayed significant decreases in their maladaptive beliefs about memory and checking symptoms from pre- to post-intervention. They also exhibited increased recall performance on a measure of visuospatial memory. Changes in beliefs about memory were predictors of reduced post-intervention checking, but were not predictive of increased post-intervention memory scores.LimitationsThe lack of long term follow-up data and use of a waitlist control leave questions about the stability and specificity of the intervention.ConclusionsFindings provide preliminary evidence that strategies targeting beliefs about memory may be worthy of inclusion in cognitive-behavioural approaches to treating compulsive checking.