Body

In a 2018 study, McKay et al. identified three psychological profiles in individuals with and without misophonia; only the third profile (11% of variance) significantly differentiated the groups. Individuals with misophonia showed lower levels of neutralizing, obsessions, and washing symptoms, but elevated ordering, harm avoidance (OCI-R, OC-TCDQ), and physical concern (ASI-3), suggesting heightened interoceptive awareness. This profile was positively correlated with obsessive beliefs (e.g., responsibility, perfectionism), depression, anxiety, stress, anger, dissociation, and bodily awareness, but not with thought control or distress tolerance. The authors concluded that misophonia may represent a distinct clinical profile characterized by selective obsessive-compulsive traits and interoceptive sensitivity, rather than aligning with general OCD symptomatology. (McKay et al., 2018)

Obsessive Beliefs (Responsibility / Perfectionism)

A 2018 study examining psychological symptom profiles in individuals with and without misophonia identified a profile that significantly differentiated the groups and was positively associated with obsessive beliefs such as heightened responsibility and perfectionism. This profile was also correlated with depression, anxiety, stress, anger, dissociation, and bodily awareness, suggesting that obsessive belief structures related to responsibility and perfectionism may be part of the psychological pattern associated with misophonia. (McKay et al., 2018)

Selective Obsessive–Compulsive Traits (Ordering, Harm Avoidance, etc.)

A profile analysis study of psychological symptoms found that individuals with misophonia showed elevated ordering behaviors, harm avoidance, and physical concern, while showing lower levels of classic OCD symptoms such as obsessions, neutralizing, and washing behaviors. These findings suggest that misophonia is associated with selective obsessive–compulsive traits, particularly ordering and harm avoidance, rather than with the broader symptom pattern typically seen in obsessive–compulsive disorder. (McKay et al., 2018)