A comparison of alexithymia, responsibility, and suicidal ideation in individuals with and without obsessive-compulsive disorder

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate professor, Department of Psychology, Payame noor University, Tehran, Iran

2 PhD student in Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran

3 M.A in Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran

4 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Payame noor University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

This study aimed to compare alexithymia, responsibility, and suicidal ideation between individuals with and without Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). A causal-comparative research method was employed. The study population included individuals with OCD and those without the disorder residing in Ardabil in 2021 who had visited psychiatric clinics. Fifty-five individuals diagnosed with OCD by psychiatrists in Ardabil were selected as the patient group, while the healthy group, consisting of companions and friends of the patients, was matched to the OCD group based on demographic characteristics. Data were collected using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Salkovskis Responsibility Attitude Scale (SRAS), the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Scale (YBOCS), and the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI). Data were analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) with SPSS 26 software. The results showed that the mean scores for alexithymia, responsibility, and suicidal ideation were significantly higher in individuals with OCD compared to those without the disorder (Wilks' Lambda = 0.553, p < 0.0001). Alexithymia, responsibility, and suicidal ideation are interconnected factors that play a key role in the exacerbation and persistence of OCD, highlighting the importance of addressing these variables in both research and the treatment of OCD symptoms.

Keywords

References

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