Pakistan Journal of Social Research ISSN 2710-3129 (P) 2710-3137 (O) Vol. 5, No. 2, June 2023, pp. 1037-1049 https://doi.org/10.52567/pjsr.v5i02.1216 www.pjsr.com.pk 1037 METACOGNITIONS AND OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE SYMPTOMS IN OCD PATIENTS: MODERATING ROLE OF GUILT SENSITIVITY Safoora Tabassum Department of Psychology, Government College University, Lahore safooragcu@gmail.com Saadia Dildar Hussain Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Government College University, Lahore saadiadilgargcu@gmail.com Sameera Shafiq * Ph.D. Scholar and Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Gujrat, Gujrat sameerashafiq@yahoo.com ABSTRACT Present research was designed to understand the connection between metacognitions and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, with guilt sensitivity as moderator in people suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). A positive association among metacognitions, guilt sensitivity and obsessive compulsive (OC) symptoms was hypothesized. Moreover, guilt sensitivity would significantly play the role of moderator in the connection of metacognition and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The research was carried out in two phases. Phase 1 comprised of translation of Guilt Sensitivity Scale (GSS, Perdighe, Cosentino, Faraci, Gragnani, Saliani, & Mancini, 2015) in Urdu by forward-backward translation method. In phase 2, sample of the study consisted of 105 OCD patients. Sample was recruited through purposive sampling technique. Metacognitive Questionnaire (MCQ-30) by Wells and Cartwright-Hatton (2004), GSS by Perdighe et al., 2015 and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms Checklist (OCSC) by Jabeen and Kausar (2010) was used. Findings of the study revealed that there is a significant positive relationship in metacognitions, guilt sensitivity and OC symptoms. Furthermore, results revealed guilt sensitivity moderated with positive beliefs, cognitive self-consciousness, and uncontrollability/dangerousness of metacognitions in OC symptoms. It was concluded that people using more metacognition and with heightened guilt sensitivity were found to have more severity of OC symptoms. Keywords: Guilt sensitivity, Metacognitions, OC symptoms. INTRODUCTION The definition of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is formulated as one having obsessions or compulsions or both (American Psychiatric Association, 2015). Obsession refers to super disturbing consideration, image, or urge, which continually enters one’s mind. These are bothersome but are agreed as originating in one’s mind, and not forced by a remote outfit. They are typically regarded by them as bad-tempered or unwarranted. Compulsions are distinct as recurring behaviors or psychological acts that the human being feels determined to carry out. It can any be evident and discernible by others, such as checking that a door is protected or a stealthy mental act that cannot be pragmatic as in repeating a certain phrase in the mind. (Belloch, et al. 2015). OCD as being an addiction and vague quarrel at the anal stage. Learning theory was also functional to the OCD, amplify in the attractiveness of behavioral representation in 1950s. In recent decades OCD and metacognition have turned out to be a critical subject for studies (Papageorgiou, et al., 2001). Behavioral model explains that there is a significant relationship in obsessions that induce anxiety and compulsions which end with break from anxiety. Cognitive approach emphasizes the major contribution to judgment about event, as an alternative incident being a cause of anxiety disorders (Salkovskis. 1985). Metacognition is one of the newest jargons in psychology. It has been over thirty years because the notion of metacognition was introduced into the psychology field by John Flavell in 1979. He was predisposed by the effort of Jean Piaget. The monitoring of a broad mixture of cognitive enterprise occurs during the * Corresponding Author