The effect of obsessive compulsive symptoms on psychopathology in patients with schizophrenia

Abstract

Background: There is a growing interest on the impact of comorbid obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) on the course and severity of schizophrenia in recent years. Objectives: This study determined the prevalence of OCS in schizophrenia patients and the clinical outcomes of the comorbidity. Methods: A total of 220 schizophrenia patients were recruited. All the participants completed Structure Clinical Interview version, Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia, Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale and World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF). Results: Significantly higher number of schizophrenia patients with OCS were taking Clozapine (p = 0.023) and antidepressants (p = 0.013). Schizophrenia patients with OCS showed more severe positive (p < 0.001) and general symptoms (p < 0.001) of schizophrenia, higher depressive symptoms (p = 0.013), higher suicidality (p < 0.001), more hospitalization (p = 0.044), poorer physical (p = 0.034) and psychological (p = 0.032) domain in WHOQOL-BREF. Discussion: Schizophrenia patients with OCS are associated with more severe psychopathology and depressive symptoms which subsequently suffered poorer physical and psychological health. Hence, recognition of OCS in schizophrenia and early initiation of effective treatment may be able to reduce the burden for people with chronic mental illness.

A cross sectional study of impact and clinical risk factors of antipsychotic-induced OCD

“…Patients with schizophrenia who develop OCD showed worse functioning as measured by significantly lower wellbeing scores (as subjectively scored by the patients themselves). This is in concordance with previous work (De Haan et al, 2013, Seng et al, 2018, Üçok et al, 2014), which used self rated scales to assess quality of life. In our study, a clinician-scored GAF scale was also used.…”

“…Indeed, studies investigating patient outcome and level of functioning in antipsychotic induced OCD are sparse and need further clarification (De Haan et al, 2013, Frias et al, 2014, Kim et al, 2015, Mukhopadhaya et al, 2009, Seng et al, 2018, Üçok et al, 2014). Studies have shown lower scores in self rated and foreign rated measures of wellbeing in those cases with antipsychotic-induced OCD compared to those without, with higher depressive symptoms, suicidality, hospitalisation, poorer physical and psychological health (De Haan et al, 2013, Kim et al, 2015, Seng et al, 2018, Üçok et al, 2014). In addition, interpersonal relationship scores were lower in those with OCD (Üçok et al, 2014) and OCD cases may also show more motor symptoms (Mukhopadhaya et al, 2009).…”

Assessment of obsessive-compulsive disorder comorbidity and obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions in patients with schizophrenia

“…That outcome demonstrated a significant association between the OCD comorbidity and the severity of clinical features in patients with schizophrenia, as has been reported in previous studies. 12 - 15 …”

“…That outcome demonstrated a significant association between the OCD comorbidity and the severity of clinical features in patients with schizophrenia, as has been reported in previous studies. [12][13][14][15] Although the difference in the severity of clinical characteristics between the patients with OCS, and OCD was not statistically significant, those with OCD comorbidity had higher clinical scores. In addition, there was a significant relationship between the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and psychotic features in the patients with OCD comorbidity, nevertheless, a similar relationship was not determined in those with OCS, and without OCD.…”

“…[13][14][15][16][17] There was a significant association between the OCD comorbidity and the severity of psychotic features in some studies, whereas others did not determine a significant relationship between those characteristics. [13][14][15][16][17] Most of the studies suggested a poor cognitive performance in the patients with OCS/OCD comorbidity, while others did not determine a significant relationship between the OCS/OCD presence and cognitive abilities. 17,18 In a recent study, severe OCS was associated with a poor functionality in the patients with schizophrenia, although those manifesting mild OCS showed a higher functionality.…”