Lessons from a multicenter, international, large sample size analysis of patients with obsessive–compulsive disorders: an overview of the ICOCS Snapshot studies

Abstract

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a prevalent and highly disabling condition, characterized by a range of phenotypic expressions, potentially associated with geo-cultural differences. This article aims to provide an overview of the published studies by the International College of Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders, in relation to the Snapshot database which has, over the past 10 years, gathered clinical naturalistic data from over 500 patients with OCD attending various research centers/clinics worldwide. This collaborative effort has provided a multi-cultural worldwide perspective of different socio-demographic and clinical features of patients with OCD. Data on age, gender, smoking habits, age at onset, duration of illness, comorbidity, suicidal behaviors, and pharmacological treatment strategies are presented here, showing peculiar differences across countries.

Variations in obsessive compulsive disorder symptomatology across cultural dimensions

“…Research into the extent and the mechanisms through which culture affects the clinical presentation of OCD remains scarce, but the available literature on this topic provides valuable insights that can direct the efforts of future research. Vismara and colleagues present, in their recently published article, a relevant overview of the different sociodemographic and clinical features of patients with OCD and highlight the intricate role of the cultural context ( 11 ).…”