Risk factors for obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Follow-up of a community-based youth cohort

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2021 Jan;30(1):89-104. doi: 10.1007/s00787-020-01495-7. Epub 2020 Feb 19.

Abstract

Environmental factors are at least as important as genetic factors for the development of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS), but the identification of such factors remain a research priority. Our study aimed to investigate the association between a broad scope of potential risk factors and OCS in a large community cohort of children and adolescents. We evaluated 1877 participants and their caregivers at baseline and after 3 years to assess various demographic, prenatal, perinatal, childhood adversity, and psychopathological factors. Mean age at baseline was 10.2 years (SD 1.9) and mean age at follow-up was 13.4 years (SD 1.9). Reports of OCS at baseline and follow-up were analyzed using latent variable models. At preliminary regression analysis, 15 parameters were significantly associated with higher OCS scores at follow-up. At subsequent regression analysis, we found that eight of these parameters remained significantly associated with higher follow-up OCS scores while being controlled by each other and by baseline OCS scores. The significant predictors of follow-up OCS were: lower socioeconomic status (p = 0.033); lower intelligence quotient (p = 0.013); lower age (p < 0.001); higher maternal stress level during pregnancy (p = 0.028); absence of breastfeeding (p = 0.017); parental baseline OCS (p = 0.038); youth baseline anxiety disorder (p = 0.023); and youth baseline OCS scores (p < 0.001). These findings may better inform clinicians and policymakers engaged in the mental health assessment and prevention in children and adolescents.

Keywords: Childhood adverse events; Longitudinal study; Obsessive–compulsive symptoms; Perinatal risk factors; Prenatal risk factors.

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Cohort Studies
  • Community Networks / standards*
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / psychology*
  • Psychopathology / methods*
  • Risk Factors