Disgust

Excessive feelings of disgust that are difficult to control play a central role in some mental disorders (e.g. obsessive-compulsive disorder, specific phobias, borderline personality disorder) and physical illnesses (e.g. skin diseases). Disgust can be directed at stimuli in the environment, but also at oneself (self-disgust).

Disgust-Studies

A brief measure of disgust propensity

The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a short scale to measure disgust propensity (DP - the general tendency to react with disgust to different situations) based on the Questionnaire for the Assessment of Disgust Propensity (QADP; Schienle et al., 2002). Participants (n = 1367; 80% female; mean age = 28 years) completed the QADP and scales on disgust sensitivity and self-disgust. Data on brain structure and disgust ratings were available for subgroups. A factor analysis revealed a five-factor structure of the QADP. Ten items (two per factor) with the highest overall item correlations were selected. The resulting QADP_brief (Cronbach's alpha = .76) covers a wide range of disgust domains and correlates highly with the original questionnaire (r = .90), disgust sensitivity, disgust ratings for gustatory, olfactory and visual disgust stimuli, and volume in the insular cortex. The QADP_brief offers a time-efficient method for recording the DP for future studies.

A randomized trial that compared brain activity, efficacy, and plausibility of open-label placebo treatment and cognitive reappraisal for reducing emotional distress

This study using functional magnetic resonance imaging compared the effect of a placebo pill (administered without deception) with cognitive reappraisal to reduce feelings of disgust. Both interventions increased activity in a cognitive control region of the brain, the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex. Cognitive reappraisal additionally decreased activity in the putamen and pallidum, which play an important role in decoding disgust signals. Self-reports showed that cognitive restructuring was rated as a more effective and plausible intervention strategy by the study participants compared to the 'open placebo'.

To the publication: Link

Self-disgust in Patients with Dermatological Diseases, International Journal of Behavioral Medicine

Patients with skin diseases (including psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa) completed questionnaires to record self-loathing, experienced stigmatization, depression, anxiety and somatization. It was found that 64 percent of patients reported increased self-loathing. Female gender, younger age, the presence of depressive symptoms and perceived stigmatization were predictors of increased self-loathing.