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Unconscious habit systems in compulsive and impulsive disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 April 2014

Natalie L. Cuzen ,
Naomi A. Fineberg  and
Dan J. Stein
Natalie L. Cuzen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa. natalie.cuzen@uct.ac.zadan.stein@uct.ac.zahttp://www.health.uct.ac.za/departments/psychiatry/about/ ACSENT Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa. http://www.humanities.uct.ac.za/hum/departments/psychology/about
Naomi A. Fineberg
Affiliation:
National Obsessive Compulsive Disorders Specialist Service, Hertfordshire Partnership NHS University Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Welwyn Garden City AL7 4HQ, United Kingdom. naomi.fineberg@hpft.nhs.ukhttp://www.hpft.nhs.uk/ University of Hertfordshire Postgraduate Medical School, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 9AB, United Kingdom
Dan J. Stein
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa. natalie.cuzen@uct.ac.zadan.stein@uct.ac.zahttp://www.health.uct.ac.za/departments/psychiatry/about/
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Abstract

It may be useful to consider the application of Huang & Bargh's (H&B's) theory of unconscious motivational processes to psychopathology. In disorders of compulsivity and impulsivity, an unconscious habit system may play a key role in explaining ego-dystonic or self-destructive behaviour. H&B's theory may provide some insights into understanding conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and drug addiction; however, additional work is needed to address the neurocircuitry and neurochemistry mediating their abnormal underlying motivational processes.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 37 , Issue 2 , April 2014 , pp. 141
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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