Clinico-epidemiological Profile of Obsessive Compulsive Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Mangalore, India: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Introduction: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is the fourth most common mental illness. It is associated with a wide range of functional impairments and therefore adversely affects the quality of life of patients. Objectives: To assess the risk factors, clinical features and management practices of OCD based on findings were stated in medical records. Methodology: The secondary data from the medical records of 9 OCD patients admitted in a tertiary care hospital over the past 10 years were recorded in a semi-structured proforma. Severity of OCD was assessed using Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale scores. Results: Mean age of onset among all patients (n=9) was 27.9±15.2 years. Family history of OCD was reported among 3(33.3%) patients. Six had predominant obsessions while the rest 3 had mixed type. The most common type of obsession was of sexual type reported among 3 patients. The most common compulsion reported was the checking type which was present among 2 patients. Reduced concentration, suicidal ideation and anhedonia were present each among 5(55.6%) patients. Depression was the most common co-morbidity reported among 5(55.6%) patients. Severity of OCD was mild among 5(55.6%). Fluvoxamine was the most common drug [5(55.6%)] used to treat OCD. Outcome of treatment was reported poor among 3(33.3%) patients. It was good/moderate among 1(25%) patient residing in urban area in comparison to 5(100%) from rural areas (p=0.048). Conclusion: Mean age of onset was found to be delayed among patients probably due to delay in identification of OCD. Hence awareness generation and early screening need to be initiated for early identification of OCD. The majority of OCD patients had positive history of suicide ideation and depression as co-morbidity, indicating the need of screening patients for these conditions.