Am J Psychiatry 1995; 152:441-443
Copyright © 1995 by American Psychiatric Association
Family accommodation in obsessive-compulsive disorder
L Calvocoressi, B Lewis, M Harris, SJ Trufan, WK Goodman, CJ McDougle and LH Price
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
OBJECTIVE: Family accommodation of patients with obsessive-compulsive
disorder, i.e., participation in symptoms and modification of personal and
family routines, was assessed in relation to family stress, functioning,
and attitudes toward the patient. METHOD: Primary caretakers for 34
patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder were interviewed to assess the
nature and frequency of accommodating behaviors. The caretakers also
completed several measures of family functioning. RESULTS: Of the 34
spouses or parents, 30 (88.2%) reported accommodating the patient. Family
accommodation correlated with poor family functioning, rejecting attitudes
toward the patient, and several types of family stress. CONCLUSIONS: Family
accommodation of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder was associated
with global family dysfunction and stress. This study suggests that
families' efforts to accommodate patients may be intended to reduce patient
anxiety or anger directed at relatives.
