The effect of metacognitive features on psychosocial functioning and quality of life in severe obsessive-compulsive disorder

AIMS: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic disorder that often leads to impairment in the social and occupational functioning of the individual. The most important factors affecting quality of life and psychosocial functioning in OCD are comorbidity and severity of the disorder. Metacognitions, which have increased in importance in recent years, are thought to have an important role in the formation, maintenance and prognosis of the disease. There are very few studies on the relationship between metacognitive features and quality of life in OCD. The effect of metacognitive features on quality of life and psychosocial functioning in severe OCD has not been investigated. The aim of our study is to contribute to the literature by investigating the effect of metacognitions on quality of life and psychosocial functioning in severe OCD and to develop more holistic approaches in treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with severe OCD and 50 healthy controls were included in our study. Sociodemographic and Clinical Data Form, Yale- Brown Obsession Compulsion Scale (Y-BOCS) and Symptom Checklist, Metacognition Scale-30, Individual and Social Performance Scale, World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Short Form, Hamilton Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Scale were applied to the participants who met the study criteria. Patients and healthy control group were compared with the necessary statistical methods. RESULTS: In severe OCD, the total metacognitive score was higher and quality of life and psychosocial functioning scores were lower compared to the control group. As the total metacognitive score increased in the case group, the quality of life and psychosocial functioning scores decreased and the severity of the disease increased. There was a significant correlation between psychosocial functioning and depression, anxiety, metacognition and Y-BOCS total. When multivariate linear regression analysis was performed on psychosocial functioning, only depression predicted the level of psychosocial functioning in OCD. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant differences in metacognition, quality of life and psychosocial functioning between the control and case groups. In OCD patients in the case group, the decrease in quality of life and psychosocial functioning is associated with metacognitive features. In our study, multivariate linear regression showed that depression had a significant effect on psychosocial functioning. Treatments for depression and metacognitive features in OCD patients may improve quality of life and psychosocial functioning. Larger samples and more studies are needed to understand depression and metacognitive features in improving quality of life and psychosocial functioning in severe OCD. Keywords: Metacognition, obsessive-compulsive disorder, quality of life, psychosocial functioning