How does OCD Impact the Quality of Life Among Adults

HOW OCD IMPACTS THE QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG ADULTS IN TERMS OF PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SOCIAL DOMAINS
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Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic debilitating anxiety disorder which whilst not prevalent, significantly affects the QoL of those who suffer from it. There is a paucity of literature on how OCD impacts QoL in social, mental, and physical domains in adults. This research proposal aims to bridge this knowledge gap. This research study aims to target 1000 previously diagnosed patients with OCD. The severity of the disease will not matter. Anyone with a history of mental illness will be excluded. They will be asked to fill in a questionnaire either online or offline. The questionnaire will be adapted from WHOQOL-BREF. The information collected will be analyzed statistically.
Introduction
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic debilitating anxiety disorder characterized by two distinct phenomena: obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are recurrent, intrusive thoughts, images, or impulses, and compulsions are repetitive covert or overt actions that are carried out to decrease anxiety CITATION Sub13 \l 1033 (Subramaniam, Soh, Vaingankar, Picco, & Chong, 2013). OCD is not extremely prevalent, but it significantly affects the QoL and performance of daily activities for those suffering from the disorder and, at times, those around the patient. While studies into the subject have created vast knowledge in treating OCD, little is known about its impact on psychosocial functioning and QoL CITATION Eis06 \l 1033 (Eisen, et al., 2006). Additionally, there is paucity in the literature on the association between OCD and its impact on adults' physical, mental, and social spheres. Therefore, this research aims to find out how OCD impacts the QoL physically, mentally, and socially in adults.
Understanding how OCD impacts an individual's physical, mental, and social circles can help find strategies to alleviate the adverse effects. Some of the factors that affect the QoL of life of OCD patients stem from the impact of the condition on the physical, mental and social spheres of their lives. Therefore, treatment interventions could be directed towards treating symptoms in these spheres to improve QoL.
Literature Review
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is the 10th leading cause of disability of all medical conditions in the industrialized world CITATION Eis06 \l 1033 (Eisen, et al., 2006). It has a prevalence level of 2.3% to 3.8% in the general population CITATION Sub13 \l 1033 (Subramaniam, Soh, Vaingankar, Picco, & Chong, 2013). OCD is characterized by two phenomena: obsession and compulsion. The obsessive and or compulsive feelings experienced by the individual cause him/her to have recurrent and intrusive thoughts and compel him/her to carry out overt or covert actions to decrease the anxiety. OCD diagnosis shows that the individual has been found to have obsessions and or compulsions that lead to significant distress and affect his/her daily functioning. OCD is mostly found in young adults, and WHP found it is the sixth leading psychiatric disorder in terms of years lived with disability CITATION Sub13 \l 1033 (Subramaniam, Soh, Va...