The Control of Unwanted Thoughts in Adolescence Implications for the Meta-Cognitive Model of Childhood Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Previous research with adults suggests that individuals with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) use maladaptive strategies to control their unwanted thoughts. The main cognitive models ofOCD (Salkovskis, 1985; Wells & Matthews, 1994) specify the particular role these strategies may play in the maintenance ofOCD symptoms. Very little is known about the role these strategies may play in the maintenance ofobsessivecompulsive symptoms in a younger population. The study used a cross-sectional correlational design with a non-clinical adolescent population aged 13 to 16 years old. Participants completed self-report questionnaire measures ofthought control strategies, meta-cognitive beliefs and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The results indicated that more frequent use ofparticular thought control strategies (i.e. punishment, worry and reappraisal) was correlated with a range ofnegative metacognitive beliefs and higher levels ofobsessive-compulsive symptoms. Regression analysis indicated that this model accounted for 27% of the variance in obsessivecompulsive symptoms. Only·meta-cognitive beliefs emerged as a significant independent predictor of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. It is suggested that a conceptualisation ofhow young people appraise, and monitor their thinking is helpful for understanding the nature of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in younger people. Methodological issues are considered and recommendations for further research are made.