OCD linked to increased risk of death! And we thought it to be just a compulsive habit

A new study has found a link between increased risk of death and a long term psychiatric disorder. Psychiatric disorders encompass a broad range of mental health conditions affecting thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Conditions like depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are examples. These disorders often result from a complex interplay of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Symptoms vary widely but can include persistent sadness, excessive worry, hallucinations, mood swings, and impaired cognitive function. Psychiatric disorders significantly impact an individual's daily life, relationships, and overall well-being. Treatment approaches include psychotherapy, medications, and lifestyle interventions, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to mental health care.

As per the new study, which has been published in the BMJ, people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) could be more likely to die from both natural and unnatural causes than those without the illness. Using data from several Swedish population registers, they identified 61,378 people with OCD and 613,780 individuals without OCD matched (1:10) by sex, birth year, and county of residence, and a further sibling group of 34,085 people with OCD and 47,874 without OCD.

OCD is typically a long-term psychiatric disorder affecting about two percent of the population. It is characterized by intrusive thoughts, urges or images that trigger high levels of anxiety and other distressing feelings - known as obsessions - that the person tries to neutralise by engaging in repetitive behaviours or rituals - known as compulsions. It is associated with academic underachievement, poor work prospects, alcohol and substance use disorders, and an increased risk of death. Overall, people with OCD had a higher death rate than matched individuals without OCD (8.1 versus 5.1 per 1,000 person years, respectively), the researchers found. The excess risk of death was higher for both natural (31% increased risk) and, particularly, unnatural causes of death (a 3-fold increased risk).

Among the natural causes of death, people with OCD had increased risks due to respiratory system diseases (73%), mental and behavioural disorders (58%), diseases of the genitourinary system (55%), endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (47%), diseases of the circulatory system (33%), nervous system (21%), and digestive system (20%). Among the unnatural causes, suicide showed the highest risk of death (a nearly fivefold increased risk), followed by accidents (a 92% increased risk).

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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to alleviate anxiety. Common obsessions include fears of contamination, harm to oneself or others, or fears of making a mistake. Compulsions often manifest as repetitive actions like washing, checking, or counting. Individuals with OCD may struggle to control these thoughts and behaviors, leading to distress and impaired daily functioning. Anxiety intensifies when compulsions are resisted.