Childhood adversity affects symptomatology via behavioral inhibition in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Although childhood maltreatment (CM) is one of the important factors in the psychopathology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), it may affect OCD along with other potential factors such as behavioral inhibition. Thus, the current research was conducted to determine the direct effect of CM on obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms and its indirect effect through behavioral inhibition in patients clinically diagnosed with OCD. Patients with OCD (n= 360, females=67.8%, mean age=35.72 years, age range=20-58 years) were randomly selected and they completed the scales assessing childhood adversity, OC symptom dimensions, behavioral inhibition system (BIS), depressive symptoms, and general OCD severity. Results showed the direct and indirect effects (through BIS) of CM on OC symptoms after controlling for the severity of depressive symptoms. In addition, the indirect effect of CM on OCD severity was affected by BIS. The study shows the role of BIS concerning OCD symptoms and general severity in patients diagnosed with OCD exposed to CM. In other words, BIS may link unpleasant childhood experiences to OCD symptomology and its severity regardless of the effects of the severity of depressive symptoms in individuals with a clinical diagnosis of OCD.

Automated summary

This study found that childhood maltreatment has both direct and indirect effects on obsessive-compulsive symptoms, with the indirect effect mediated by the behavioral inhibition system. The findings highlight the role of the behavioral inhibition system in linking childhood maltreatment to obsessive-compulsive symptomology.