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General somatic health and lifestyle habits in individuals with obsessive- compulsive disorder : an international survey

Holmberg, Anna ; Martinsson, Lina ; Lidin, Matthias ; Rück, Christian ; Mataix-Cols, David LU and Fernández de la Cruz, Lorena (2024) In BMC Psychiatry 24(1).
Abstract

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been associated with a broad range of health-related issues. Unhealthy lifestyle habits such as physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption are hypothesized to contribute to this association. However, the lifestyle habits of individuals with OCD have been scarcely investigated. In this international survey, we explored the physical health and lifestyle habits of adults with a self-reported diagnosis of OCD. Methods: An online global survey available in seven languages was disseminated through interest organizations and social media between July 2021 and March 2022. The survey included questions relating to socio-demographic variables and clinical... (More)

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been associated with a broad range of health-related issues. Unhealthy lifestyle habits such as physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption are hypothesized to contribute to this association. However, the lifestyle habits of individuals with OCD have been scarcely investigated. In this international survey, we explored the physical health and lifestyle habits of adults with a self-reported diagnosis of OCD. Methods: An online global survey available in seven languages was disseminated through interest organizations and social media between July 2021 and March 2022. The survey included questions relating to socio-demographic variables and clinical characteristics (including OCD symptom severity – as measured with the 12-item self-report scale Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory [OCI-12] – and psychotropic medication), physical health, and lifestyle habits. Frequencies and percentages, or means and standard deviations, as appropriate, were calculated. Subgroup analyses by OCD symptom severity, gender, and age group were performed. Results: A total of 496 individuals with OCD completed the survey and were included in the analyses (mean age = 36.0 years, SD = 12.5, range 18–79; 78.8% women). Most participants were from Europe (n = 245, 49.4%) and North America (n = 187, 37.7%). OCD symptom severity scores were on the moderate range (OCI-12 mean score = 21.2, SD = 9.1). A majority (n = 354, 71.4%) reported having comorbid somatic health issues, mainly allergies, gastrointestinal conditions, and cardiometabolic conditions. Nearly half of the sample (n = 236, 47.6%) reported a body mass index ≥ 25, corresponding to at least overweight. A significant proportion of the participants reported low physical activity (n = 271, 55.0%), unhealthy dietary habits (n = 182, 36.7%), risk consumption of alcohol (n = 111, 22.3%), and non-restorative sleep (n = 268, 54.0%). Subgroup analyses showed overall similar results across groups, with some exceptions. Conclusions: In this sample, individuals with OCD self-reported a range of health-related issues and a number of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, most prominently a lack of physical activity. Interventions aimed at modifying unhealthy lifestyles to prevent or improve health conditions beyond the psychiatric symptoms should be considered.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Alcohol consumption, Cardiometabolic risk factors, Dietary habits, Drug consumption, Lifestyle habits, Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Physical activity, Physical health, Prevention, Sleep
in
BMC Psychiatry
volume
24
issue
1
article number
98
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • pmid:38317127
  • scopus:85184408986
ISSN
1471-244X
DOI
10.1186/s12888-024-05566-w
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
89b22e48-3311-47db-be67-0934d03f2ab3
date added to LUP
2024-03-12 14:34:54
date last changed
2024-04-23 19:13:02
@article{89b22e48-3311-47db-be67-0934d03f2ab3,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been associated with a broad range of health-related issues. Unhealthy lifestyle habits such as physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption are hypothesized to contribute to this association. However, the lifestyle habits of individuals with OCD have been scarcely investigated. In this international survey, we explored the physical health and lifestyle habits of adults with a self-reported diagnosis of OCD. Methods: An online global survey available in seven languages was disseminated through interest organizations and social media between July 2021 and March 2022. The survey included questions relating to socio-demographic variables and clinical characteristics (including OCD symptom severity – as measured with the 12-item self-report scale Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory [OCI-12] – and psychotropic medication), physical health, and lifestyle habits. Frequencies and percentages, or means and standard deviations, as appropriate, were calculated. Subgroup analyses by OCD symptom severity, gender, and age group were performed. Results: A total of 496 individuals with OCD completed the survey and were included in the analyses (mean age = 36.0 years, SD = 12.5, range 18–79; 78.8% women). Most participants were from Europe (n = 245, 49.4%) and North America (n = 187, 37.7%). OCD symptom severity scores were on the moderate range (OCI-12 mean score = 21.2, SD = 9.1). A majority (n = 354, 71.4%) reported having comorbid somatic health issues, mainly allergies, gastrointestinal conditions, and cardiometabolic conditions. Nearly half of the sample (n = 236, 47.6%) reported a body mass index ≥ 25, corresponding to at least overweight. A significant proportion of the participants reported low physical activity (n = 271, 55.0%), unhealthy dietary habits (n = 182, 36.7%), risk consumption of alcohol (n = 111, 22.3%), and non-restorative sleep (n = 268, 54.0%). Subgroup analyses showed overall similar results across groups, with some exceptions. Conclusions: In this sample, individuals with OCD self-reported a range of health-related issues and a number of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, most prominently a lack of physical activity. Interventions aimed at modifying unhealthy lifestyles to prevent or improve health conditions beyond the psychiatric symptoms should be considered.</p>}},
  author       = {{Holmberg, Anna and Martinsson, Lina and Lidin, Matthias and Rück, Christian and Mataix-Cols, David and Fernández de la Cruz, Lorena}},
  issn         = {{1471-244X}},
  keywords     = {{Alcohol consumption; Cardiometabolic risk factors; Dietary habits; Drug consumption; Lifestyle habits; Obsessive-compulsive disorder; Physical activity; Physical health; Prevention; Sleep}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{BMC Psychiatry}},
  title        = {{General somatic health and lifestyle habits in individuals with obsessive- compulsive disorder : an international survey}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05566-w}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/s12888-024-05566-w}},
  volume       = {{24}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}