Beliefs in emetophobia (specific phobia of vomiting)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Control-related beliefs and responsibility attitudes in emetophobia (specific phobia of vomiting)
IRAS ID
243417
Contact name
Patrick Larsson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 30 days
Research summary
The concept of control has been found to be an important component in the maintenance of a number of anxiety disorders. Here it is argued that an internally directed need for control across a number of control-related domains plays a significant part in the maintenance of emetophobia. Three control-related constructs will be explored in the research, namely locus of control (LOC), sense of control (SC) and desire for control (DC). It has been hypothesised that control contributes to the maintenance of emetophobia; however, this has been examined in only one study, and within that study one domain of control was explored. This research hopes to contribute further to this area, and is particularly interested in understanding the constellation of control-related beliefs and their relation to symptom severity. The study will also examine the presence of responsibility attitudes in emetophobia. It has been argued that an inflated sense of responsibility plays a role in emetophobia; however, this has not been tested empirically. The study will argue that the developmental pathways which lead to an inflated sense of responsibility in OCD, which is often compared to emetophobia in terms of presentation, are different than the developmental pathways found in emetophobia, and because of this would question the role of responsibility in its maintenance. As such, the study argues that the main motivator to prevent vomiting is associated with the ‘awfulness’ of vomiting as opposed to responsibility. Therefore, the study will aim to establish the presence of responsibility attitudes in emetophobia.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
18/NS/0021
Date of REC Opinion
27 Feb 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion