Semantic Linkages of Obsessions From an International Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Mobile App Data Set: Big Data Analytics Study.

The clustering of naturally acquired obsessional words resulted in three major groupings of semantic themes, which partially overlapped with predefined checklists from previous studies. Furthermore, the closeness of the overall embedded relationships across clusters and their central convergence on harm suggests that, at least at the level of self-reported obsessional thoughts, most obsessions have close semantic relationships. Harm to self or others may be an underlying organizing theme across many obsessions. Notably, relationship-themed words, not previously included in factor-analytic studies, clustered with just-right words. These novel insights have potential implications for understanding how an apparent multitude of obsessional symptoms are connected by underlying themes. This observation could aid exposure-based treatment approaches and could be used as a conceptual framework for future research.