Partner Behaviors in Couples with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (2014)

Undergraduates: McKenzie Roddy, Melanie Fischer

Faculty Advisor: Donald Baucom
Department: Psychology & Neuroscience

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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by unpleasant, intrusive thoughts or images, obsessions, and ritualized actions or compulsions, which aim to decrease the anxiety caused by the obsessions. This study examined partners¿ behaviors in response to patients¿ OCD prior to participating in a couple-based treatment intervention for OCD. The extent to which partner behaviors in response to OCD beyond general relationship functioning affects treatment outcome is of interest. High levels of accommodation at pre were hypothesized to correlate with less improvement. 16 couples with one partner meeting diagnostic criteria for OCD enrolled in the study. An observational coding system was adapted to measure partner behaviors during videotaped interactions, including Promotion of Change, Acceptance/Validation, and Accommodation. Higher levels of partner Accommodation at pre were indicative of poor treatment outcomes, and an interaction effect between high levels of Promotion of Change and low levels of Acceptance/Validation were associated with better outcomes. Together, the main and interaction effects explained up to 44% of the variance in OCD treatment outcome and replicate prior findings that in response to psychopathology, partners who demonstrate ¿tough love¿ create the best environment for improvement. Limitations are discussed. Results emphasize the importance of the interpersonal context of OCD and possible directions for future clinical work.