| dc.description.abstract | Previous research has found links between delayed circadian timing, sleep disturbance, and psychopathology. However, the role of sleep and circadian rhythm disruption in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) remains unclear. We utilized a multi-method approach to test a model by which later circadian timing contributes to OCD through its effects on sleep, inhibition, and stress. Using a sleep restriction paradigm, we found that decreased inhibition predicts increased OCD symptoms and intrusive cognition following sleep restriction, particularly among those with lower baseline sleep efficiency. In a comparison of those with OCD to healthy controls, we found later circadian timing and increased insomnia symptoms the OCD group. Although we found no significant relationships between daily sleep duration and timing and OCD symptoms, we found that average weekly stressors interacted with average sleep timing to predict increased weekly OCD symptoms. Finally, we found that insomnia symptoms mediated the relationship between later circadian timing and OCD symptoms. Together these results implicate sleep and circadian rhythm disruption in OCD and find modest support for the intervening roles of inhibition and stress. Sleep and circadian rhythms may be beneficial targets for the prevention and treatment of OCD. | |
