Investigating the differential role of childhood trauma and cognitive istortions associated with clinical symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is one of the prevalent mental disorders which is characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive and compulsive behaviors. OCD is a debilitating disorder that makes a person''''''''s life difficult. This studies’ aim was to investigate the differential role of childhood trauma and cognitive distortions associated with clinical symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The research method was descriptive correlational. 201 male and female students were selected from all students of Urmia University by convenience sampling method and then evaluated for obsessive-compulsive symptoms, exposure to child abuse and cognitive distortions. The results of regression analysis showed that there is a significant relationship between the dimensions of childhood trauma and cognitive distortions with the clinical symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Also, regression analysis revealed that approximately 32% of the of the total variance of the clinical symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder is predictable based on the variables of childhood trauma and cognitive distortions, and the cognitive distortions variable has a greater share. This study supports the association of clinical symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder with childhood trauma and cognitive distortions in clients. It seems that Childhood abuse experiences are a powerful predictor of severe behavioral and psychosocial consequences, like obsessive-compulsive disorder; and exposure to childhood trauma can predict obsessive-compulsive disorder and cognitive distortions in adulthood.