The Relationship Between Occupational Functionality and Metacognition in Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Objective: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the most common mental disorders with a loss of functionality in many areas of life. The current study aims to reveal the relationship between occupational functionality and metacognition in OCD patients.

Materials And Methods: The cross-sectional study sample consisted of 183 participants diagnosed with OCD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria. Participants were evaluated with the Yale-Brown Obsession and Compulsion Scale (Y-BOCS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Metacognition Scale (MCQ-30). The occupational functioning of the participants was determined by the basic version of the semi-structured Longitudinal Follow-up Evaluation form (LIFE-BASE) in interviews with the clinician. The LIFE-BASE form divided the study sample into functional (n=92) and non-functional (n=91).

Results: It was determined that the mean age of the study sample was 32.49±8.65 years, and 54.1% (n=99) of them were female. When the two groups were compared, statistically significant differences were found in gender (p<0.001), education (p=0.012), Y-BOCS compulsion (p=0.003), and total scores (p=0.006). In the comparison of the groups, a statistical difference was found between the MCQ-30 Positive Beliefs subscale (p<0.05). However, no statistical difference was found between uncontrollability and danger, cognitive confidence, belief in controlling thoughts, and cognitive awareness. In addition, it was found that gender and the MCQ-30 positive beliefs score could predict occupational functioning.

Conclusion: The present study is important because it was the first study to show the effects of positive beliefs on occupational functioning in OCD patients. However, further studies are needed on the underlying causes of this effect.