A Study of Obsessive Beliefs among Patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and their First Degree Relatives

Abstract

Higher percentage of familial transmission has been reported in relation to OCD patients. Consistent findings as to role of cognitive factors such as obsessive beliefs among first degree relatives of patients with OCD have not been reported and thus these phenomena need more research. Thus the aim of the current research was to study the difference in obsessive beliefs in patients with OCD and their first degree relatives.  30 patients diagnosed with OCD were checked for severity of obsessions and compulsions using Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and for the severity of obsessive beliefs, Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire-44 (OBQ-44). General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was administered on 30 first degree relatives of the patients with OCD to rule out the presence of any mental health conditions. Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ-44) was administered on them as well. The difference between the scores of both the patients and their relatives was calculated using t-test. There was a significant difference between scores on OBQ-44 of patients and that of their first degree relatives.