Welche Funktionen erfüllen Zwangssymptome? – Ergebnisse einer Analyse im stationären Setting

Abstract

Functions of Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms - Results of an In-Patient Study Introduction: Obsessive compulsive symptoms may have many different intra-psychic and interpersonal functions and meanings which should be taken into account for a successful treatment. The present study aimed to systematically evaluate functions of obsessive compulsive symptoms which were identified during the course of cognitive behavioral treatment of obsessive compulsive in-patients. Furthermore, associations with socio-demographic and clinical variables were analysed. Materials and Methods: Treatment reports of all in-patients of our hospital from 2001-2008 with the primary diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder were included in the analysis. 168 reports (63%) contained explicit details about the individual functions of the disorder, which were systematically evaluated by use of qualitative content analysis applying deductive categories. Categorized functions were then compared with regard to age, sex, duration of illness and duration of treatment. Result: In more than half of the patients (57.7%) >= 2 functions could be identified; intra-psychic functions were observed more often than interpersonal functions. The most prominent function was emotion regulation (53.7%); the need for autonomy and delineation was the most frequent interpersonal function (42.1%). None of the 11 functions was associated with duration of illness or discontinuation of treatment. However, there was an association between subgroups of OC symptoms and several intra-psychic and interpersonal functions. Conclusion: Results demonstrate a wide variety of functions of OC symptoms. The needs for regulation of aversive emotions and for autonomy, however, were particularly strongly represented.