Associations of obsessive-compulsive symptoms with magical thinking and predictive style

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive symptoms shape the clinical basis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) but can also occur in individuals without psychopathology and in patients with schizophrenia. Studies demonstrate an association between obsessive-compulsive symptoms and magical thinking. We hypothesize that predictive style may mediate the relationship between magical thinking and obsessive-compulsive symptoms: magical thinking combined with negative predictions exacerbates anxiety about the future, leading to avoidance through compulsive behavior.

AIM: To examine the specific features of the associations between obsessive-compulsive symptoms, magical thinking, and predictive style in patients with schizophrenia, OCD, and healthy participants.

METHODS: The study included 181 respondents divided into four groups: 50 healthy individuals without obsessive-compulsive symptoms (median, 32 years); 39 healthy individuals with obsessive-compulsive symptoms (median, 34 years); 52 patients with schizophrenia (median, 36 years) from the V.M. Bekhterev Republican Clinical Psychiatric Hospital (Kazan, Russia); and 40 patients with OCD (median, 27 years) from the Insight Clinic Rehabilitation Center (Kazan, Russia). Magical thinking was assessed using the Tobacyk’s Paranormal Belief Scale (adapted by Grigoriev, 2015), OCD symptoms were identified via the Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI; adapted by Karpov, 2022), and predictive style was evaluated using the Predictive Style Questionnaire (developed by Granitsa). Statistical analysis was performed using Jamovi 2.3.28 software.

RESULTS: Patients with schizophrenia scored statistically significantly higher on the Tobacyk’s Paranormal Belief Scale (Welch = 12.61; p < 0.001) and its subscales, except for the Superstition subscale. The severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms correlated with the Paranormal Belief Scale scores (Superstitions: r = 0.231, p = 0.004; Witchcraft: r = 0.335, p = 0.037; Spiritualism: r = 0.426, p = 0.038) and the Predictive Style Questionnaire scores (with excessive forecasting: r = 0.571, p < 0.001; pessimism: r = 0.351, p < 0.001). Excessive forecasting correlated with the Paranormal Belief Scale scores in healthy individuals without obsessive-compulsive symptoms (r = 0.407, p = 0.003) and in patients with schizophrenia (r = 0.491, p < 0.001). Pessimism correlated with the Superstition subscale scores. Regression analysis confirmed that the subscales of the Paranormal Belief Scale are statistically significant predictors of obsessive-compulsive symptom severity, whereas excessive forecasting and pessimism act as mediators, amplifying the influence of magical thinking. This model explained 14%–60% of the variance in respondents’ answers to the MOCI questionnaire, depending on the sample.

CONCLUSION: Patients with schizophrenia exhibit stronger belief in the paranormal compared to patients with OCD and healthy respondents. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms are associated with magical thinking and predictive style. Excessive forecasting and pessimism show positive correlations with paranormal beliefs. Predictive style mediates the relationship between magical thinking and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

About the authors

Aleksandr S. Granitsa

Kazan Federal University

Author for correspondence.
Email: hebechblu@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0498-7397
SPIN-code: 4775-7844

MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor

Russian Federation, Kazan

Elsa K. Kuchukova

Kazan Federal University

Email: elssakam@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0001-3254-7073
Russian Federation, Kazan

Irina Sh. Musina

Kazan Federal University

Email: i.musina2011@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0007-8359-6696
Russian Federation, Kazan

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Supplementary files

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2. Fig. 1. Median values ​​for the magical thinking subscales in the study groups: OCS – obsessive-compulsive symptoms; OCD – obsessive-compulsive disorder.

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3. Fig. 2. Results of the correlation analysis of the relationship between magical thinking and the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS).

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4. Fig. 3. Results of the correlation analysis of the relationship between the prognostic style and the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptom (OCS): OCD - obsessive-compulsive disorder.

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5. Fig. 4. Results of the correlation analysis of the relationship between magical thinking and forecasting events: OCS - obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

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6. Fig. 5. Results of the correlation analysis of the relationship between magical thinking and the subjective assessment of the probability of a favorable outcome of events: OCS - obsessive-compulsive symptoms; OCD - obsessive-compulsive disorder.

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