Attachment styles and propensity for sexual response in adult obsessive-compulsive disorder

Abstract

An impaired sexual functioning has been found to be more frequent in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) than in the general population and other clinical groups. Less is known about the psychological processes associated with this altered sexual response. The present study was carried out to investigate the association between attachment styles and sexual response (i.e. sexual excitation and inhibition) in a group of patients with OCD, controlling for socio-demographics, OCD severity, psychiatric and personality comorbidity, serotonergic medications, and obsessive cognitions. Seventy-two patients with OCD and 72 matched healthy individuals were recruited. OCD patients self-reported significantly higher levels of sexual excitation and inhibition, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, obsessive cognitions, and attachment styles characterized by discomfort with closeness, need for approval, and preoccupation with relationships. The MANCOVA analysis revealed that patients with more severe symptoms had lower propensity to experience sexual excitation. Patients with stronger confidence and need for approval were less inhibited. Attachment styles may be a feature involved in the propensity for sexual response of OCD patients, and they should be assessed during clinical practice with this clinical population. Interventions aimed to improve sexual life of this type of patients should target attachment.