Quality of life of relatives of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
BACKGROUND
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects the lives of both patients and their relatives. Clinical observations suggest that family members of patients with OCD are involved in the patients' rituals, often impairing their own everyday life.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to compare the quality of life (QoL) of relatives of patients with OCD with that of the general German population.


METHODS
Seventy-four relatives (29 parents, 33 spouses, 8 children, and 4 siblings) of patients with OCD (International Statistical Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision F42.0-F42.2) were recruited from the outpatient clinic for anxiety disorders of the University of Leipzig Department of Psychiatry. The WHOQOL-BREF, a self-administered questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization, assessed QoL. These findings were compared with the QoL of a representative sample of the general German population.


RESULTS
Compared with that of the general population, the QoL of relatives of patients with OCD was significantly lower in the domains physical well-being, psychologic well-being, and social relationship.


CONCLUSIONS
Obsessive-compulsive disorder has an adverse effect on the subjective QoL of relatives of patients with OCD. Therefore, these findings suggest that professionals working with relatives must focus not only on the care given to persons with an illness but also on their relatives' situation and personal QoL.
Stengler-Wenzke
Katarina
K
Department of Psychiatry, University of Leipzig, Leipzig 04317, Germany. stenglk@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Kroll
Michael
M
Matschinger
Herbert
H
Angermeyer
Matthias C
MC
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires