(PS7-D83) An Exploration of the Impact of Sensory Phenomena on Not Just Right Experiences

“Not just right” experiences (NJREs) are internal feelings of discomfort commonly observed in obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. These feelings are often triggered by various sensory stimuli across multiple modalities, including tactile or visual stimuli. Sensory phenomena (SP) refer to various uncomfortable sensory experiences, such as tactile sensations, energy build-ups, urges, and a need to achieve a “just right” perception. NJREs in OCD may be related to abnormalities in sensory processing. Individuals with OCD often have difficulty integrating various sensory inputs to create a coherent perception of the world which increases their susceptibility to experiences of SP. The propensity to experience SP is likely a strong correlate of the tendency to experience NJREs. However, there is a paucity of research on the pattern of association between SP and NJREs in the context of OCRDs.

The present study aimed to examine how distinct categories of SP (i.e., physical sensations, NJRE perceptions, NJRE discomfort, energy build-ups, and urges) relate to various manifestations of NJREs (state, trait, and discomfort elicited by visual stimuli). To our knowledge, this is the first study to compare different presentations of NJREs while examining the categories of SP in relation to OC symptoms.

The study participants were given a set of questionnaires to answer regarding experiences of five types of SP (USP-SPS), NJREs, and the general severity of OCD-related symptoms (OCI-R). The sample consisted of 126 participants who identified as primarily female (77%), white (79%), and ranged in age from 18-59 (M = 24.6 years, SD = 7.1). Participants tended to exhibit a moderate severity of OCD-related symptoms (OCI-R M = 22.24, SD = 14.38).

The severity of OCD-related symptoms was significantly associated with the total number and severity of SP. For those who endorsed experiencing at least one SP, the average age of onset was M = 13.2 years (SD = 4.8), which did not differ across the 5 categories. Participants endorsed a total of 5 SP (SD = 4.4) across the five categories. The average severity score of SP was M = 4.3 (SD = 3.6), which sums ratings from 0-5 on each frequency, distress, and interference. The severity of NJREs tended to be influenced more by the number and severity of SP than the type of SP or when they onset. Linear regressions indicated that total SP was predictive of NJRE state severity scores (β = .1, p < .05; NJRE-QR), while distress related to the severity of SP was predictive of trait incompleteness symptoms (β = 2.2, p = .01). Total number of SP approached significance in predicting distress ratings from visual stimuli (β = .1, p = .06).

The findings suggest that individuals with NJREs may experience various types of SP, SP can influence the severity and distress related to NJREs, and that severity of OCD-related symptoms is related to the severity and total number of SP. Clinical implications and future directions of the study are discussed, including the importance of identifying different types of SP in individuals with OCD and developing effective treatment strategies that target sensory processing abnormalities.