Frequency and Clinical Impact of Abusive Relationships among Female Patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder at Zagazig University Hospitals

Elsafy, Eman Roshdy; El_Masry, N M; Fouad, Amira A.; Mohamed, Aya Ibrahim; Abdelsalam, Heba A

doi:10.21608/zumj.2025.354686.3808

Frequency and Clinical Impact of Abusive Relationships among Female Patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder at Zagazig University Hospitals

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Psychiatry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University

² Psychiatry department,Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt

³ psychiatry department , faculty of medicine , zagazig university

10.21608/zumj.2025.354686.3808

Abstract

Background: Among all mental illnesses, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is the leading cause of disability, thus it's critical to improve knowledge of the disorder's etiology and potential risk factors for future prevention. Preventing abusive relationships can improve the disease's symptomatology and prevent further consequences, particularly suicidal ideation or intent for a higher quality of life. Abusive relationships can also be a trigger for the onset of symptoms of the disorder or worsen preexisting symptoms and maintenance pathophysiology. Therefore, in order to prevent more abuse and its problems in society and improve people's quality of life, we sought to illustrate the effects of abusive relationships (both during childhood and maturity) on the clinical picture and severity of OCD among participants.

Methods: The study was carried out using a descriptive cross sectional design. The sample had been collected randomly within 2 years (from January 2020 to January 2022) where all female patients diagnosed as OCD according to DSM IV Diagnostic criteria. The study was conducted in Psychiatry Department (inpatient ward and the outpatient clinic) Zagazig University hospitals, Sharkia, Egypt.

Results: 76(89.4%) participants had history of childhood trauma exposure; 36(42.4%) of them had also Intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure. There is statistically significant relation between exposure to childhood trauma and compliance. All patients without violence had good compliance versus 53.9% of those exposed to childhood trauma.

Conclusion: High frequency of Childhood Trauma among our patients insure that it plays great role in psychopathology of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

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