[Subjective quality of life of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder compared to the general population].
BACKGROUND
Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) 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 OCD 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.


CONCLUSIONS
OCD 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.
Stengler-Wenzke
Katarina
K
Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie, Universität Leipzig, Germany. stenglk@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Kroll
Michael
M
Matschinger
Herbert
H
Angermeyer
Matthias C
MC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012016:Reference Values; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors