Dear Appreciated Volunteer:
Thank you for participating in this study. The title of this study is “An Online Investigation of the Mediators of Functional Impairment and Quality of Life in Adult Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.” The purpose of this study is to try to understand more about the different reasons OCD might have a bigger or smaller impact on quality of life in different people.
We are studying OCD-related impairment in up to 5000 adults with OCD. To participate, you must be over 18 and have a confirmed diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
You will be asked to complete questionnaires about your obsessive-compulsive symptoms, along with questionnaires about how much OCD impacts your life, the different areas of your life that are impacted by OCD, your overall quality of life, questions about depression and anxiety in general, the ways you react to feelings of anxiety, the degree to which your family accommodates your symptoms, your willingness to experience unwanted private events, and your values. These questionnaires should take a total of about forty-five minutes to complete. Your answers to questions will be kept confidential and will only be seen by myself and members of the research team. In addition, your identity will be anonymous, as no identifying information from you will be associated with your answers. Finally, participation is voluntary – you may stop participating in the study at any time with no penalty.
However, if you stop taking the survey in the middle, you cannot come back to complete your answers. You must answer the questions in one sitting.
While we do not anticipate any risks associated with study participation, some people may feel uncomfortable answering questions about their thoughts or actions that may be private. You will not receive direct compensation for participating in this study, nor are there any other benefits for participation. However, you will be helping us understand more about OCD, which may help people with OCD in the future. If the results of this research are published or presented at scientific meetings, your identity will not be disclosed at any time. No data regarding your internet address will be collected, thus ensuring your anonymity.
If you feel distressed about answering questions, you may contact Dr. Eric Storch at 727-767-8230 or via email at rothmanctr@health.usf.edu.
Thank you for your consideration. If you have any questions about your participation, you may call Dr. Eric Storch or the All Children’s Hospital Institutional Review Board at 727-767-4275. Also, please feel free to print out this form if you prefer to keep it for your records or read a hard copy.
Sincerely,
Jessica Morgan Eric Storch, Ph.D.
University of South Florida Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry Jmorgan1@health.usf.edu Box 7523
800 6th Street South
University of South Florida
St. Petersburg FL 33701