Frederick Aardema Ph. D.

Les conférences
Fernand-Seguin
Frederick Aardema Ph. D.
Université Concordia, Montréal, QC
Doubt and Dissociative Processes in
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Doutes et processus dissociatifs dans les troubles
obsessionnels-compulsifs (Conférence en anglais)
Mardi 19 mai 2009 à 13h30
Salle Léon-Tétreault, porte 107
Centre de recherche Fernand-Seguin
7331, rue Hochelaga
Montréal, Québec
H1N 3V2
Téléphone : 514-251-4015
www.hlhl.qc.ca/recherche
Title: «Doubt and Dissociative Processes in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder»
Frederick Aardema, Ph. D. Université Concordia, Montréal, QC
Mardi 19 mai 2009 à 13h30
Salle Léon-Tétreault, porte 107
Centre de recherche Fernand-Seguin
7331, rue Hochelaga, Montréal (Québec) H1N 2V2
Abstract
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a debilitating psychiatric disorder characterized by high
levels of pathological doubt. The current presentation focuses on the role of reasoning, dissociative
and imaginative processes in the production of obsessional doubt. It is argued that the dynamic
interplay between reality-based information and possibility-based information, as well as various
dissociative and imaginative processes, relate to symptoms of OCD. In particular, an experimental
reasoning task that measures changes in level of doubt by alternately presenting participants with
possibility and reality-based information showed that people with OCD are more affected by
possibility-based information leading to higher levels of doubt. The higher impact of possibilitybased based information can be explained by various pathological imaginative processes operating
in OCD. Specifically, dissociative tendencies account for a substantial portion of the variance in
obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The clinical impactions are that doubt and dissociative tendencies
should be directly addressed in cognitive-behavioural therapy for a range of clinical disorders.
Biography
Dr. Frederick Aardema studied clinical psychology at the University of Groningen and the
University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Following the completion of his doctorate degree he
pursued his post doctoral research at the Fernand Seguin Research Center in Montreal, and more
recently at Concordia University. He has published widely in international journals in the field of
obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, and is a frequent presenter at scientific conferences.
He is co-author of the book Beyond Reasonable Doubt offering a new innovative cognitive
approach to the treatment of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Most of Dr. Frederick
Aardema`s research has focused on dissociative and cognitive processes in clinical disorders. In
particular, his research interests include psychometric and experimental methods in the
measurement of cognitive processes in OCD, as well as the application of inference and narrative
based models to obsessions without overt compulsions. Other aspects of his research include virtual
reality, introspective ability, self-constructs and psychological assessment. His most recent research
at Concordia University investigates the role of self-constructs in the development and maintenance
of obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
7331, rue Hochelaga
Montréal, Québec
H1N 3V2
Téléphone : 514-251-4015
www.hlhl.qc.ca/recherche