AUTHOR=Doron Guy , Derby Danny , Szepsenwol Ohad , Nahaloni Elad , Moulding Richard 

TITLE=Relationship Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: Interference, Symptoms, and Maladaptive Beliefs

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 7 - 2016

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00058

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00058

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=Background. Obsessive preoccupation, doubts, and compulsive behaviors focusing on one's romantic relationship and partner are receiving increasing clinical, theoretical and empirical attention. Commonly referred to as relationship obsessive-compulsive disorder (ROCD), such symptoms have been linked with decreased relational and sexual functioning and lower mood, even after controlling for other obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms. To date, however, these symptoms have been studied in community sample alone. In the present study, we compared levels of interference, OCD and mood symptom between clinical participants with ROCD, OCD and community controls. We also examined group differences in maladaptive beliefs previously linked with OCD and ROCD. 
Method. Participants included 22 ROCD clients, 22 OCD clients, and 28 community controls. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used to attain clinical diagnoses of OCD and ROCD. The Yale Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale was used to evaluate primary-symptoms severity. All participants completed measures of symptoms and dysfunctional beliefs. 
Results. ROCD clients reported more severe ROCD symptoms than the OCD and control groups. ROCD and OCD clients did not differ in severity of their primary-symptoms. ROCD clients scored higher than the other groups on maladaptive OCD-related and relationship-related beliefs. Finally, ROCD clients showed more severe depression symptoms than community controls. 
Conclusions. ROCD is a disabling presentation of OCD that warrants research attention. Maladaptive OCD-related and relationship-related beliefs may be implicated in the development and maintenance of ROCD.