Social support and symptom severity among patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder or panic disorder with agoraphobia: A systematic review
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Europe's journal of psychology ; vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 254-286.Publisher(s)
PsychOpenAuthor(s)
Abstract(s)
Panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (PD/A) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are characterized by major behavioral
dysruptions that may affect patients’ social and marital functioning. The disorders’ impact on interpersonal relationships may also affect the
quality of support patients receive from their social network. The main goal of this systematic review is to determine the association
between social or marital support and symptom severity among adults with PD/A or OCD. A systematic search of databases was executed
and provided 35 eligible articles. Results from OCD studies indicated a negative association between marital adjustment and symptom
severity, and a positive association between accommodation from relatives and symptom severity. However, results were inconclusive for
negative forms of social support (e.g. criticism, hostility). Results from PD/A studies indicated a negative association between perceived
social support and symptom severity. Also, results from studies using an observational measure of marital adjustment indicated a negative
association between quality of support from the spouse and PD/A severity. However, results were inconclusive for perceived marital
adjustment and symptom severity. In conclusion, this systematic review generally suggests a major role of social and marital support in
PD/A and OCD symptomatology. However, given diversity of results and methods used in studies, more are needed to clarify the links
between support and symptom severity among patients with PD/A and OCD.
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