The Effect of Trauma on the Severity of Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Symptoms: A Meta-Analysis

Publication date: Available online 14 February 2017
Source:Journal of Anxiety Disorders
Author(s): Michelle L. Miller, Rebecca L. Brock
It is important to consider trauma-related sequelae in the etiology and maintenance of psychopathology, namely understudied disorders such as those belonging to the Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum (OCS). This meta-analysis examined the association between past trauma exposure and current severity of OCS disorder symptoms. A systematic literature search was conducted with 24 (N=4,557) articles meeting inclusion criteria. A significant overall effect size was obtained (r=.20), indicating that exposure to past trauma is associated with a higher severity of OCS symptoms, with a stronger association for females (β=0.01, p<.001) but not varying as a function of relationship status. Four types of interpersonal trauma (violence, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect) were associated with OCS symptom severity (r=.19 −.24) and past trauma was significantly associated with more severe compulsions (r=.17), but not obsessions. Results suggest an important link between multiple types of past trauma exposure and OCS symptoms.



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