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Hostile emotion and obsessional neurosis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

David G. Millar
David G. Millar*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Leeds
*
1Address for correspondence: Mr David G. Millar, Adult Department, The Tavistock Clinic, Belsize Lane, London NW3 5BA.
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Synopsis

The literature on the place of hostile emotion in obsessional neurosis is reviewed. In the main study 11 obsessional neurotic and 11 depressive patients matched for severity of illness were given questionnaires to measure experienced hostility and anger, and a repertory grid of standard form. The obsessional group showed a qualitatively distinct correlational pattern of measured aspects of hostility–anger, including a high correlation between outwardly directed aspects of hostility and anger; this pattern was replicated in a validation study. In contrast, the obsessional group was not differentiated by a negative cognitive set. Treatment implications for obsessional neurosis are briefly discussed.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 13 , Issue 4 , November 1983, pp. 813 - 819
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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