Role of life events in obsessive compulsive disorder

There are very few studies examining the role of life events in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Moreover, these studies have methodological limitations and have reported contradictory findings.

To examine the frequency of life events in patients with OCD as compared to normal healthy controls.

10 patients fulfilling ICD-10 DCR criteria of OCD were rated with Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale (PSLES). A group of 10 normal controls were also rated on PSLES. Finally, both groups were compared in terms of life events.

The frequency of life events, six months (t=3.95, p=.001) and lifetime (t=5.53, p less than .001), were significantly higher in patient group in comparison to controls. PSLES scores showed significant correlation with YBOCS scores. However, there was no correlation between PSLES and HDRS scores. Stepwise linear regression analysis showed PSLES scores significantly positively predicted obsessive and compulsive scores.

Life events were significantly more frequent in OCD patients both six months and lifetime, as compared to healthy controls. The severity of OC symptoms was found to be directly proportional to the number of stressful life events experienced in the last six months prior to onset.