Research Article, J Trauma Stress Disor Treat Vol: 7 Issue: 3

Quality of Life in Anxiety Disorders: A Comparison of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder in Light of Demographic Variables in Saudi Arabia

Ali Mohammad Abu-Hekmah^* and Maan A Barry Qassim Saleh

Department of Clinical Psychology, College of Medicine, Dammam University, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia

*Corresponding Author : Ali Mohammad Abu-Hekmah
Department of Clinical Psychology, College of Medicine, Dammam University, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966-556104994/ 00109449
E-mail: A-CP@hotmail.com

Received: May 25, 2018 Accepted: June 12, 2018 Published: June 19, 2018

Citation: Abu-Hekmah AM, Saleh MABQ (2018) Quality of Life in Anxiety Disorders: A Comparison of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder in Light of Demographic Variables in Saudi Arabia. J Trauma Stress Disor Treat 7:2. doi: 10.4172/2324-8947.1000187

Abstract

Keywords: Quality of Life; Anxiety Disorders; Obsessive-Compulsive; Social Anxiety; Gender; Age; Marital status; Educational level

Introduction

The Quality of Life (QOL) in individuals with anxiety disorders specifically is still in its infancy [1]. Research done to date portrays a consistent picture of anxiety disorders as conditions that markedly compromise (QOL) and psychosocial functioning in several functional domains [2]. There is growing recognition, for example, that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disabling disorder, associated with substantial morbidity and impaired (QOL) [3]. Many studies have shown that (OCD) is associated with moderate to severe interference with socializing, family relationships and ability to study, work, as well as with decreased self-esteem and suicidal thoughts [4].

As well as Patients with the social anxiety disorder (SAD) are at an increased risk of social impairment, and are associated with reduced work performance, decreased social interaction, and possibly more school problems during adolescence.

Quality of life

Quality of life (QOL) is a complex concept with multiple aspects (Figure 1), these aspects (usually referred to as domains or dimensions) can include: cognitive functioning; emotional functioning; psychological well-being; general health; physical functioning; physical symptoms and toxicity; role functioning; sexual functioning; social well-being and functioning; and spiritual/existential issues [5].

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines “an individual’s perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, and standards and concerns. It is a broad-ranging concept affected in a complex way by the person’s physical health, psychological state, and level of independence, social relationships, and their relationships to salient features of their environment”.

Anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders include disorders that share features of excessive fear and anxiety and related behavioral disturbances. Fear is the emotional response to real or perceived imminent threat, whereas anxiety in anticipation of future threat. Obviously, these two states overlap, but they also differ, with fear more often associated with surges of autonomic arousal necessary for fight or flight, thoughts of immediate danger, and escape behaviors, and anxiety more often associated with muscle tension and vigilance in preparation for future danger and cautious or avoidant behaviors. Sometimes the level of fear or anxiety is reduced by pervasive avoidance behaviors (DSM5, 2013). Diminished QOL has been well documented across a broad range of anxiety disorders including panic disorder, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder [6].

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD)

Is an intriguing and often debilitating syndrome characterized by the presence of two distinct phenomena: obsessions and compulsions? Obsessions are intrusive, recurrent, unwanted ideas, thoughts, or impulses that are difficult to dismiss despite their disturbing nature. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors, either observable or mental, that are intended to reduce the anxiety engendered by obsessions. Obsessions or compulsions that clearly interfere with functioning and/or cause significant distress are the hallmarks of OCD [7].

Social anxiety disorder (SAD)

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) was defined as “clinically significant anxiety provoked by exposure to certain types of social or performance situations, often leading to avoidance behavior (DSM5, 2013). Socially anxious individuals fear and avoid a variety of situations including social performance and interactions. These situations may feature eating or writing in public, initiating social conversations, going to social events, meeting strangers, dating, or interaction with authority figures [8].

Methods

Participants

The study population in this research is of OCD and SAD patients in Saudi Arabia, has been selected three specialized hospitals in psychiatry and five psychiatric clinics in primary health care centers in Dammam and Al Khobar, where it was a random sample by psychiatry clinics at King Fahd University Hospital in Al Khobar and Alamal Complex for Mental Health in Dammam and psychiatric clinics in primary health care centers in Dammam and Khobar, and mental health hospital in Abha.

And where the sample was representative of the study population (103) patients from the outpatients Psychiatric Clinics of King Fahd University Hospital, Alamal Complex for Mental Health in Dammam, Abha Mental Health Hospital and Psychiatric clinics in primary health care centers in Dammam and Al Khobar, ranging in age between (18-60) years Female and Male, and with diagnosis of OCD and SAD according to Psychiatric diagnosis and Psychological assessment by Obsessive Compulsive Scale and Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale.

Their distribution is (7) OCD and (5) SAD Clinic patients from King Fahd University Hospital in Al Khobar and (12) OCD and (11) SAD Clinic patients from Al Amal Complex for Mental Health in Dammam and (14) OCD and (23) SAD clinic patients from Psychiatric clinics in primary health care centers in Dammam and Al Khobar and (11) OCD and (8) SAD clinic patients from Abha Mental Health Hospital (Table 1). The sample was distributed from OCD and SAD patients in the light of demographic variables as described in Table 2.

Table 1: Shows the distribution of places the sample collection.

Table 2: Shows the distribution of the sample on demographic variables.

After the application of the criteria correct sample scores on a scale of OCD and SAD were excluded from (9) patients with OCD do not getting classified within the scores standard OCD patients, and (3) patients with SAD do not getting classified within the scores standard OCD patients (Table 3) Where it became a sample study of (41) patients with OCD patients and (50) patients with SAD, total sample of these study is (91) patient.

Table 3: Cases of excluded after the application of Standard.

Study design

This study is based on the approach of descriptive statistics, aims to study the differences in QOL among patient with OCD and SAD patients in the light of some of the demographic variables, and this study descriptive quantitative, in this study, two independent groups, and a subsidiary variables which demographic variables (age, gender, marital status and education) and the independent variable, a QOL in patients with OCD and SAD.

It was evident from the results of descriptive statistics non normal distribution of the sample, and the use of statistical Nonparametric Test for statistical significance of the differences among patients with OCD and SAD in QOL, as well as for the statistical significance of the differences in quality of life among patients with OCD due to age, gender, marital status and education, as well as access to the statistical significance of the differences in QOL among patients with SAD due to age, gender, marital status and education. Hence, the researcher used statistical methods Nonparametric to detect differences between the two independent groups, such as: (Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal test, Casper test and Test “T.”) As well as the researcher used a statistical method Multi Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) to obtain the statistical significance of the differences in QOL among patients with OCD and SAD in the light of some of the demographic variables.

Finally, the researcher based on the statistical significance of the mean differences to test the validity of hypotheses of this study.

Procedure

Was obtained approval to start the sample collection of Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Dammam, have been identified psychiatric clinics at King Fahd University Hospital in Al Khobar and Alamal Complex for Mental Health in Dammam and psychiatric clinics in primary health care centers in Dammam and Khobar, and mental health hospital in Abha, have been distributed study tools to psychiatrists and a psychologist and trained on the application method and the evaluation of the study sample.

Complete (50) patients OCD answer all study tools also completed (53) patient SAD response on all tools of the study under the supervision of a psychiatrist or psychologist, and was visiting researcher psychiatric clinics, hospitals, day in each week to King Fahd University Hospital in Al Khobar and Alamal Complex for Mental Health in Dammam and psychiatric clinics in primary health care centers in Dammam and Khobar.

Then collect a sample of the remaining study of Mental Health Hospital under the supervision of a researcher in Abha.

Materials

Obsessive compulsive scale

The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) is a known 67-item scale used to measure the OCD symptoms. It was developed by Goodman et al (1989) and evaluated by Kim and Deskin (1993) to verify its reliability and validity. The scale was translated into the Arabic language by the Department of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University in Cairo and has been used in several studies since 1994.

Reliability: The researcher calculates the Reliability of the scale where it reached: (.783)

Validity: The researcher used exploratory factor analysis and the results were as follows:

The Table 4 indicates previous existence of two factors explained 60.02% of the total variance, and the following Table shows the components of Matrix for the OCD Scale: The Table 5 indicates that all Previous statements on a saturated first factor, while tow statements appeared found positive on a saturated two factors and therefore it is not statistically significant, and this indicates that the ten statements represent one factor called it researcher obsessive compulsive scale.

Table 4: Total variance explained for the obsessive compulsive scale.

Table 5: Component matrix for the obsessive compulsive scale.

Fear of negative evaluation scale (FNE)

The Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (FNE) is a 30-item, self-rated scale used to measure SAD. The FNE was developed by David Watson and Ronald Friend, Each item on the FNE is a statement about some aspect of social anxiety. You must decide whether each statement is true or false for you personally. If the choice is difficult, you are asked to choose the one that is slightly more applicable based on how you feel at the moment. You are asked to answer based on your first reaction and not spend too long on any item. The scale was translated into the Arabic language by Majde Aldsuge (2004).

Reliability: The researcher calculates the Reliability of the scale where it reached: (.831)

Validity: The researcher calculates the correlation coefficient between the total score of the scale and the degree of each statement and confined correlation coefficients between (30-721) and all of them were is statistically significant, which means that all the statements associated degree with the total score of the scale; this is called Validity of internal consistency.

Quality of life scale

The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) project was initiated in 1991. The aim was to develop an international cross-culturally comparable quality of life assessment instrument. It assesses the individual’s perceptions in the context of their culture and value systems, and their personal goals, standards, and concerns. The WHOQOL-BREF instrument comprises 26 items, which measure the following broad domains: physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment. The scale was translated into the Arabic language by the Bushra Ismail (2013).

Reliability: The researcher calculates the Reliability of the scale where it reached (Table 6).

Table 6: Reliability of the quality of life scale.

Validity: The researcher used exploratory factor analysis dimensions of scale and the results were as follows:

The Table 7 and Table 8 indicate previous existence of one factor explained 62.6% of the total variance; this means that the four dimensions is located behind one target factor.

Table 7: Total variance explained for the quality of life scale.

Table 8: Component matrix for the quality of life scale.

Results

The first hypothesis

The level of QOL among all patients with OCD and SAD is Low. To test the hypothesis, the researcher dividing the levels of the distribution of scores on each dimension as follows: Table 9. The Table 10 calculates the averages of patients with OCD and SAD on QOL results were as follows: A previous Table 11 indicates that the level of QOL among patients with OCD and SAD was low.

Table 9: The distribution of scores on all dimension of quality of life.

Table 10: Averages of patients with OCD in the dimensions of quality of life.

Table 11: Averages of patients with social anxiety in the dimensions of quality of life.

The second hypothesis

No statistically significant differences between patients among OCD and SAD in terms of quality of life. To test the validity of this hypothesis, the researcher used, T-test for two independent samples, and the results were as follows: The previous Table 12 indicates that there are no differences among patients with OCD disorder and SAD in the QOL and this proves the second hypothesis in this study.

Table 12: Test results “t” of the differences between patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and social anxiety on quality of life.

The third hypothesis

There were statistically significant differences in the QOL among patients with OCD according to the gender, age, marital status and educational level. To test the validity of this hypothesis, the researcher used a Multi Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and the results were as follows: The previous Table 13 indicates that there are no differences in the QOL in patients with OCD due to the Gender and age, marital status and education.

Table 13: The results of analysis of variance of the differences in the quality of life in the light of demographic variables in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Fourth hypothesis

There were statistically significant differences in the quality of life in patients with SAD according to the gender, age, marital status and educational level. To test the validity of this hypothesis, the researcher used a Multi Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and the results were as follows: The previous Table 14 indicates that there are no differences in the QOL in patients with SAD due to the Gender and age, marital status and education.

Table 14: The results of analysis of variance of the differences in the quality of life in the light of demographic variables in patients with social anxiety disorder.

Discussion

The main finding of this study showed that the level of QOL among all patients with OCD and SAD is Low, and that are consisted of studies [1,9-11]. To extent of impairment due to OCD and SAD appears to be similar across the QOL. Our study finding revealed that there are no statistically significant differences among patients with OCD and SAD in terms of QOL and that are Consistent with studies. Also, our finding revealed that there are no statistically significant differences in the QOL among patients with OCD according to the gender, age, marital status and educational level, it’s consistent with studies [11,12-15]. The results of this study showed no statistically significant differences in the QOL among patients with SAD due to the Gender and age, marital status and education, and the researcher did not find studies on the QOL differences among patients with SAD in light of some demographic variables at the moment [15-23].

Recommendation

Based on the results of this study, the following are some important recommendation on to applied:

A. This study recommends attention to determining the level of QOL for patients with OCD and SAD during the clinical interview or psychological treatment for the following:

• To determine the level of QOL among patients with OCD and social anxiety.

• To identify weaknesses in the QOL for patients and work on them, you may be one of the reasons is the turbulence or disruption in the continuity of a patient’s life factors.

B. Promote the concept of QOL in psychiatric clinics to have an impact on the lives of OCD and SAD patients, such as psychological education about the importance of QOL and increase the level of well-being.

C. The involvement of OCD and SAD patients in improving the QOL programs while receiving psychiatric treatment.

Future research is needed to address the following suggestions

A. Study the relationship to improve the QOL level during cognitive behavioral therapy with patients OCD and SAD.

B. Further studies on the QOL in patients with SAD and compared with each other and between patients with psychosis and affective disorders.

Conclusion

The findings of these study confirmed the impairment QOL among patients with OCD and SAD, Found in this current study, no statistically significant differences in the QOL among patients with OCD and SAD in all dimensions scale of QOL, and no statistically significant differences among patients with OCD or SAD due to the variables of gender, age, marital status and education.

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