Temperament and Character Profile in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): A Pre and Post Intervention Analysis

Abstract

Objective: The present study examines the pattern of changes in temperament and character profiles of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) patients following 8-20 weeks of treatment for obsessive compulsive symptoms (OC symptoms). Methodology: The study also investigated the relationship between the temperament and character pattern and the severity of OC symptoms. A sample of 52 patients who met DSM IV TR criteria was assessed using Temperament Character Inventory, Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, Hamilton Depression rating scale and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. After baseline assessment of 52 OCD patients only 40 OCD patients, who complied with medication for 8-20 weeks were reassessed using the same measures as a follow-up assessment. Result: Finding indicated that after treatment the patients showed significantly lower score on Harm Avoidance whereas Self Directedness and Cooperativeness was significantly poorer in comparison to normal subjects. Severity of OC symptoms was correlated with Self Directedness, and co morbid anxiety was correlated with high Harm Avoidance and low Cooperativeness. Conclusion: These findings suggest that temperament is more amenable to treatment than character dimensions of OCD patients.