Partners' Responses to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

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  • June 12, 2020
Creator
  • Roddy, McKenzie
    • Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
Abstract
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by (a) unpleasant, intrusive thoughts or images, referred to as obsessions, and (b) ritualized actions or compulsions, which seek to decrease the anxiety caused by the obsessions. Although OCD is an individual disorder, it affects the lives of romantic partners. This study examined partners’ behaviors in response to patients’ OCD prior to and after a couple-based treatment intervention for OCD. The extent to which partner behaviors in response to OCD are related to treatment outcome is of particular interest. High levels of Accommodation at pretest were hypothesized to predict less improvement over the course of treatment. Sixteen couples with one partner meeting diagnostic criteria for OCD enrolled in the study and were assessed at baseline. An observational coding system was adapted to measure partner behaviors during a videotaped conversation, including Change Promotion, Acceptance/ Validation, and Accommodation. Higher levels of partner Accommodation at pretest were indicative of worse treatment outcomes, and an interaction effect between high levels of Change Promotion and high levels of Acceptance/ Validation were associated with better treatment outcome. Together, the main and interaction effects of partner behaviors explained up to 49% of the variance in OCD treatment outcome and suggest that continued accommodation across treatment resulted in worse outcomes for the patients. Findings also suggest that the optimal amount of empathy shown by partners may vary as a function of patient motivation to change. Limitations are discussed. These results emphasize the importance of the interpersonal context of OCD and possible directions for future clinical work.
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  • In Copyright
Note
  • Funding: None
Advisor
  • Baucom, Donald
Degree
  • Bachelor of Science
Honors level
  • Honors
Degree granting institution
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Graduation year
  • 2014
Language
  • English
Extent
  • 61

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