Quality of Life in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: The Different Impact of Obsessions and Compulsions

Abstract

Background: Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are troubled by repeated obsessions and/or compulsions, which seem senseless and frequently repugnant. Objective: The study examines the differential impact of obsessions and compulsions on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with OCD. Methods: Seventy-five patients (43 females, 32 males) between 21 and 62 years old with OCD (ICD 10 F42.0–F42.2) were recruited from the outpatient clinic for anxiety disorders at the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Leipzig. The severity of OCD symptoms was assessed by the Yale Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (a standardized, clinician-administered scale), and depressiveness was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (a self-report instrument). QoL was assessed by means of the WHOQOL-BREF, a self-administered questionnaire developed by WHO. Results: Compulsions reduced patients’ QoL in the WHOQOL-BREF domains ‘physical well-being’, ‘psychological well-being’ and ‘environment’, whereas obsessions did not have any impact on QoL ratings. Depressive symptoms were a strong predictor of poor QoL in OCD patients. Conclusions: In order to judge the QoL of OCD patients, obsessions and compulsions have to be considered differently. Diagnosing and treating depressive symptoms is important for improving the QoL in OCD.

The Brazilian Research Consortium on Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders: recruitment, assessment instruments, methods for the development of multicenter collaborative studies and preliminary results

“…48 Even with relatively mild mean scores of depression and anxiety symptoms, their additional impact on OCD may increase the patient's burden and, probably, of their families. 25 More specific analyses of QoL of these patients will be described in future papers, regarding clinical aspects that can have different impact, such as obsessions or compulsions, as suggested by Stengler-Wenzke et al 49 The CTOC participants are confident that their main goals have been successfully achieved so far. Relevant clinical data have been systematically and uniformly collected, a large database for collaborative studies has been built, graduate and post-graduate students are receiving research training in this field, and expert groups are under continuous development throughout the country.…”

Quality of life in adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder

“…Similar data have been reported by previous studies conducted with adults. 29,34,35 These findings may be explained by the fact that, even though quality of life is considered a multifactorial construct, the different features analyzed by each of the domains are probably also present in the impairment associated with depression episodes, with a potential overlap between depression characteristics and the quality of life construct.…”

The Experience of Siblings of Adolescents With Eating Disorders

“…Studies have shown that obsessive-compulsive disorder can have adverse effects on the QOL of relatives of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Family members report finding themselves accommodating to the illness and becoming involved in the patients' rituals, often impairing their own everyday life [35,36]. Family members, including siblings, report a reduced QOL, high levels of family distress, depression, anxiety, feelings of frustration, anger, and guilt [37,38].…”