Investigation of alexithymia, sexual dysfunction and dyadic adjustment in obsessive compulsive disorder

Objective: It was aimed to evaluate alexithymic characteristics in patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and to reveal their relationship with sexual dysfunction (SD) and dyadic adjustment, and to compare OCD patients and control groups in terms of alexithymia, sexual functions and dyadic adjustment. Materials and Methods: Our study was carried out in Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine Balcalı Hospital, Department of Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Unit. A healthy volunteer control group consisting of 72 OCD patients who were married or had sexual partners and 82 people with similar sociodemographic characteristics, no history of mental illness, and married or sexual partners were included in the study. In addition to the sociodemographic data form, obsessive-compulsive disorder data form, and sexual functions data form created by us, the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX), Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) was applied. Results: In our study, 59,8 % of OCD patients were found to be alexithymic. TAS-20 total score averages of OCD patients were found to be significantly higher than the control group (p<0,001). The mean ASEX total score in alexithymic OCD patients was found to be higher than in non-alexithymic OCD patients (p<0,001). The DAS total score (p<0,001) and subscale mean score (p=0,01; p=0,001; p=0,002; p=0,01) were found to be higher in alexithymic OCD patients than in non-alexithymic OCD patients. In the patient group, there was a positive correlation between TAS-20 total score and ASEX total score (p=0,002), and TAS-20 total score and DAS total score (p=0,004) and subscale scores (p=0,038; p=0,001; p =0,026; p=0,032), a negative relationship was found between them. Sexual Dysfunction was detected in 65,3 % of OCD patients. Orgasmic disorder (48,8 %) was the most common in women with OCD, and decreased sexual desire (30,3 %) was the most common in men with OCD. ASEX total scores were found to be higher in OCD patients compared to the control group in both genders (p<0,001). DAS total score and subscale score medians were found to be lower in OCD patients compared to the control group (p<0,001). In our study, no relationship was found between OCD symptom types and alexithymia level (p>0,05), sexual dysfunction (p>0,05) and dyadic adjustment (p>0,05). Conclusion: According to the results of our study, higher alexithymia levels, worse sexual functionality and lower dyadic adjustment were found in OCD patients. The presence of alexithymia in OCD patients was associated with worse sexual functioning and lower dyadic adjustment. In addition, it was observed that as alexithymia levels increased in OCD patients, the deterioration in sexual functions increased and dyadic harmony decreased. Questioning the existence of alexithymic characteristics in OCD patients and providing appropriate treatment methods may allow patients to increase their familial (social) functionality. Investigating these relationships in large sample groups or in different diseases will contribute to the clarification of the subject. Keywords: Alexithymia, Sexual Dysfunction, Dyadic Adjustment, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder