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Stockholm, Sweden – A recent Swedish study published in The BMJ suggests that individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may face a higher likelihood of both natural and unnatural causes of death compared to those without the condition. The research underscores the importance of improved surveillance, prevention, and early intervention strategies to mitigate the risk of fatal outcomes in individuals grappling with OCD.
OCD is a chronic psychiatric disorder affecting approximately two percent of the population. Characterized by intrusive thoughts, urges, or images triggering heightened anxiety, individuals with OCD often engage in repetitive behaviors or rituals to neutralize these distressing feelings.
The study, conducted by researchers using data from Swedish population registers, focused on 61,378 individuals with OCD, comparing them with 613,780 matched individuals without OCD and an additional sibling group of 34,085 individuals with OCD and 47,874 without.
Key findings revealed that individuals with OCD exhibited a higher death rate (8.1 per 1,000 person years) compared to the matched group without OCD (5.1 per 1,000 person years). After adjusting for various factors, including birth year, sex, county, migrant status, education, and family income, individuals with OCD faced an 82% increased risk of death from any cause.
The excess risk of death was notably higher for both natural (31% increased risk) and unnatural causes (a threefold increased risk). Specific natural causes contributing to the heightened risk included respiratory system diseases (73% increased risk), mental and behavioral disorders (58% increased risk), and diseases of the genitourinary system (55% increased risk). Unnatural causes, with suicide showing the highest risk (nearly fivefold increased risk), and accidents (92% increased risk), were also significant contributors.
Interestingly, individuals with OCD had a 10% lower risk of death due to tumors (neoplasms). The study noted that the risk of all-cause death was similar between women and men, although women with OCD had a higher relative risk of dying due to unnatural causes, likely due to lower baseline risk among women in the general population.
While this observational study cannot establish causation, the researchers emphasize that better surveillance, prevention, and early intervention strategies are imperative to reduce the risk of fatal outcomes in individuals with OCD. The study’s large scale and reliance on high-quality national data strengthen the significance of its findings.
As researchers delve deeper into the connection between OCD and mortality risk, these findings prompt further investigation into potential interventions and support mechanisms for individuals grappling with this psychiatric disorder.
