Subjective quality of life of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder compared to the general population

Background: Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (C)CD) not only suffer from obsessive-compulsive symptoms, but also the disorder is associated with impaired social functioning, which impact their everyday life negatively. Objective: Subjective quality of life (QoL) in patients with OCD was examined and compared to the general German population. Methods: 75 patients 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. Patients showing psychiatric co-morbidity were excluded. By means of the WHOQOL-BREF, QoL was assessed in patients with CICD and in a sample of the general population of Saxony/Germany. Results: Compared with the general population, QoL in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorders was lower in all domains of the WHOQOL-BREF. Conclusion: CICD has a substantial adverse effect on patients' subjective QoL. Therefore, it will be necessary to include interventions in the treatment of OCD aimed at improving residual deficits in psychosocial functioning and QoL.