Dissociative Experiences and Symptom Severity in Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study from North India

Abstract

Background: Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic and disabling psychiatric disorder characterized by intrusive obsessions and repetitive compulsions that significantly impair functioning and quality of life. Increasing evidence suggests that dissociative experiences may contribute to the clinical heterogeneity and symptom severity of OCD. However, limited data are available from India examining the relationship between dissociative experiences and OCD severity. The present study aimed to assess dissociative experiences in patients with OCD and examine their correlation with symptom severity.
Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among patients diagnosed with OCD attending the psychiatry services of a tertiary care teaching hospital in North India. Adult patients meeting diagnostic criteria for OCD were recruited consecutively after obtaining written informed consent. Symptom severity was assessed using the Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), and dissociative experiences were evaluated using the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES). Sociodemographic and clinical details were recorded using a semi-structured proforma. Correlation analyses were performed to examine correlation between dissociative experiences and OCD symptom severity.
Results: A significant positive correlation was observed between dissociative experiences and overall OCD symptom severity. Dissociative experiences were also significantly correlated with obsessive symptom severity and compulsive symptom severity. Patients with greater OCD severity demonstrated higher dissociative experiences, indicating a close relationship between dissociative psychopathology and OCD symptom burden.
Conclusion: Dissociative experiences were significantly associated with symptom severity in OCD. Routine assessment of dissociative symptoms in individuals with OCD may help identify clinically relevant subgroups and guide comprehensive treatment planning. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to explore causal pathways and implications for treatment outcomes.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2581.5822.202601

How to cite this article:
Garg B, Sharma A, Prasad S, Ramesh O S V. Dissociative Experiences and Symptom Severity in Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study from North India. J Adv Res Psychol Psychother. 2026; 9(1&2): 6-11.