Monica S Wu1, Joseph F McGuire2, Eric A Storch3. 1. Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address: MonicaWu@mail.usf.edu. 2. UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, CA, USA. 3. Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; Department of Health Management and Policy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; Rogers Behavioral Health - Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL, USA; All Children's Hospital - Johns Hopkins Medicine, St. Petersburg, FL, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although anxiety sensitivity (AS) presents in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), it has received minimal empirical attention. There are postulated connections between AS and family accommodation, but this relationship has yet to be formally examined. METHODS: The present study included 58 adults with OCD who completed a clinician-rated measure of OCD symptom severity, as well as self-report measures assessing AS, family variables, impairment, and co-occurring psychopathology. RESULTS: Participants' AS moderately correlated with family accommodation, family functioning, and depression, while strongly correlating with anxiety symptoms. The Fear of Cognitive Dyscontrol AS subscale moderately correlated with multiple domains of functional impairment, and predicted family accommodation beyond the effects of OCD symptom severity. Family accommodation mediated the relationship between the Fear of Cognitive Dyscontrol AS subscale and functional impairment. LIMITATIONS: The study was cross-sectional in nature, limiting the ability to establish directionality and causation. The sample was also limited to adults with OCD and their own symptomology, necessitating further investigations of these constructs in pediatric samples and psychopathology in the caregivers/relatives. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of considering fears regarding the loss of mental control within the context of family accommodation in OCD when evaluating functional impairment.
BACKGROUND: Although anxiety sensitivity (AS) presents in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), it has received minimal empirical attention. There are postulated connections between AS and family accommodation, but this relationship has yet to be formally examined. METHODS: The present study included 58 adults with OCD who completed a clinician-rated measure of OCD symptom severity, as well as self-report measures assessing AS, family variables, impairment, and co-occurring psychopathology. RESULTS:Participants' AS moderately correlated with family accommodation, family functioning, and depression, while strongly correlating with anxiety symptoms. The Fear of Cognitive Dyscontrol AS subscale moderately correlated with multiple domains of functional impairment, and predicted family accommodation beyond the effects of OCD symptom severity. Family accommodation mediated the relationship between the Fear of Cognitive Dyscontrol AS subscale and functional impairment. LIMITATIONS: The study was cross-sectional in nature, limiting the ability to establish directionality and causation. The sample was also limited to adults with OCD and their own symptomology, necessitating further investigations of these constructs in pediatric samples and psychopathology in the caregivers/relatives. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of considering fears regarding the loss of mental control within the context of family accommodation in OCD when evaluating functional impairment.