The Assessment of Thought Fusion Beliefs and Beliefs About Rituals: Psychometric Properties of the Thought Fusion Instrument and Beliefs About Rituals Inventory

Background: According to the metacognitive model, two domains of metacognitive beliefs play a role in the development and maintenance of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The Thought Fusion Instrument (TFI) has been developed to measure metacognitive beliefs about the significance of intrusive thoughts. The Beliefs About Rituals Inventory (BARI) assesses metacognitive beliefs about the necessity of performing ritual behaviors. Studies assessing the psychometric properties of the TFI and BARI are scarce. There are no studies assessing the factor structure of the TFI and the BARI. Methods: In this study, we assessed the psychometric properties of the TFI and the BARI in nonclinical (n = 141) and clinical populations (OCD [n = 60], anxiety disorder [n = 30], and autism spectrum disorder [n = 50]). In the nonclinical population, the factor structure is also explored. Results: For both the TFI and the BARI, an explorative factor analysis revealed a one-factor solution, which now needs further exploration using confirmative approaches. The internal consistency appeared good, and they had a moderate test-retest reliability. Convergent and divergent validity of the instruments appeared sufficient, but more research is required to draw firm conclusions. The criterion validity turned out to be moderate for the BARI but low for the TFI in measuring OCD-specific metacognitions. Conclusions: Based on the explorative factor analysis, we hypothesize the TFI and the BARI to measure a single-factor construct. The current study shows that the TFI and the BARI are potentially suitable questionnaires to assess metacognitions in clinical and nonclinical populations. More research is required before clear recommendations can be made for the utility and use in clinical practice.