Quality of Life and Burden in Caregivers of Youth with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Presenting for Intensive Treatment

Pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with deleterious familial effects; caregivers are often enmeshed in the disorder and can experience considerable burden and decreased quality of life (QoL). Consequently, this study examined burden and QoL in caregivers of youth with OCD enrolled in an intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization program. The relationships between caregiver QoL and burden and the following variables were investigated: OCD symptom severity, functioning (youth functional impairment, general family functioning), family (family accommodation, parental relationship satisfaction, positive aspects of caregiving), and comorbid psychopathology (caregiver anxiety and depressive symptoms, youth internalizing and externalizing behaviors).

Source: Comprehensive Psychiatry - August 29, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Monica S. Wu, Rebecca Hamblin, Joshua Nadeau, Jessica Simmons, Ashley Smith, Meredith Wilson, Stephanie Eken, Brent Small, Vicky Phares, Eric A. Storch Source Type: research