The perception of physical health status in obsessive-compulsive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Physical Health Status is a neglected outcome in clinical practice with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and a systematic review is lacking. Objective: The current study presents the first systematic review and meta-analysis summarizing the evidence on (a) perceived Physical Health Status, Bodily Pain and Role Limitations due to Physical Problems in patients with OCD compared with controls, (b) age, gender, severity of OCD symptoms, study publication date, study methodological quality as moderators of perceived Physical Health Status. Methods: Case-control studies were included if they (a) compared OCD patients with healthy/general population participants as controls, and (b) used validated self-report instruments. Two reviewers searched electronic databases, contacted corresponding authors, and examined reference lists/conference proceedings/theses. Results: Fourteen studies were included. A large significant negative effect size without publication bias showed that controls reported higher perceived Physical Health Status than patients with OCD. Medium and small effect sizes favouring controls emerged for Role Limitations due to Physical Problems and Bodily Pain, respectively. Higher age, females percentage, and publication date were associated with larger effect sizes; higher OCD severity and methodological quality were associated with smaller effect sizes. Conclusion: Perceived Physical Health should be evaluated and addressed by clinicians during treatment, particularly with older, female and less severe patients. Lifestyle interventions might be implemented.