Associations of Autism Traits With Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms and Well-Being in Patients With Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study

The aim of this study is to examine the association of autism traits with long-term obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms and well-being levels in patient with OCD. Participants comprised 18 outpatients from a tertiary hospital and 100 adults who were registered in a large Japanese internet marketing research company and met OCD criteria by the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview and were between the ages of 20 and 65 years. Clinical characteristics, autism trait assessed using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), OCD symptoms assessed using Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), and well-being assessed using the Flourishing Scale were assessed. Multiple regression analyses showed that a greater total score of AQ, a greater subscale score "imagination" was associated with a greater score of Y-BOCS. Greater total score of AQ, a greater subscale score "social skill," and "imagination" were associated with lower well-being score. Autism traits, especially lack of imagination, were associated with more severe OCD symptoms. Further, autism traits, especially social skill problems and lack of imagination, were associated with lower levels of well-being. Assessment of autism traits before treatment and a strategy designed for OCD patients with autism traits may be warranted.