An examination of obsessive-compulsive symptom domains, depression, and quality of life within an online survey sample

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a heterogeneous and highly impairing disorder that is frequently comorbid with other conditions. Participants in this study were 212 individuals recruited through Mechanical Turk who filled out validated measures of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, quality of life (QoL), generalized anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Analyses examined the influences of each symptom variable on QoL and the mediating role of depression as an indirect link between unacceptable thoughts (UT) and QoL. Depressive symptoms had a significant negative relationship with multiple domains of functioning. Generalized anxiety was not significant. Higher endorsement of UT symptoms was related to lower physical, emotional, and social QoL. Depression partially mediated the relationship between UT symptoms and physical, emotional, and social health. Depressive symptoms are important to consider in clinical work surrounding OCD. The significant associations between UT symptoms and QoL in a nonclinical population illustrate a relevant area for future intervention, public awareness, and education.