The impact of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in obsessive‐compulsive disorder subjects

Abstract

Background: Recent findings suggest an association between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Thus, we evaluated the clinical associated features of ADHD in a large sample of adult OCD patients. Methods:A cross-sectional study including 955 adult patients with OCD from the Brazilian Research Consortium of Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders (C-TOC). Clinical characteristics in adult OCD patients with and without comorbid ADHD were compared using Fisher's exact test, t-tests or Mann-Whitney tests.Bivariate analyses were followed by logistic regression analysis to identify clinical characteristics independently associated with ADHD comorbidity. Results:The lifetime prevalence of ADHD in adult OCD patients was 13.7%. The current results indicate that OCD + ADHD patients were more severe, had an earlier onset of the obsessive-compulsive symptoms, a higher history of rheumatic fever, with higher frequencies of sensory phenomena and comorbidity with Tourette syndrome. They also had an increased risk for academic impairment and suicide attempts.Conclusion: Adult OCD patients with ADHD present some specific clinical features and may represent a special subgroup of adult OCD. Future studies should focus on the development of interventions more tailored to the phenotype of this subgroup of patients.

Prevalence and correlates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients

“…They found that both groups did not differ greatly in the current OCs severity [42]. Our outcomes are conflicting with a past report that discovered higher total and obsession severity according to the Y-BOCS among OCD adults comorbid with ADHD [35].…”

“…This finding confirms the idea that the co-occurring between these disorders continue until adulthood. Our results are higher than the results of previous studies where rates of adult ADHD among OCD patients were 13.7%, 13%, 8%, and 10%, respectively [32][33][34][35]. They used different sample characteristics with different age ranges (18-80).…”

Childhood Attention Dificit Hyperactivity Symptoms Among Adult Patients With Obsessive Compulsive Disorder at Zagazig University Hospitals

“…This finding confirms the idea that the co-occurring between these disorders continue until adulthood. Our results are higher than the studies of previous studies where rates of adult ADHD among OCD patients were 13.7%, 13%, 8% and 10% respectively [26][27][28][29]. They used different sample characteristics with different age ranges (18 -80).…”

“…It was noticed that scores were found to be higher among those with history of childhood ADHD symptoms when compared to those without. We agree with Blanco-Vieira et al [29]. , who found that OCD patients with comorbid ADHD presented more severe anxiety symptoms.…”

“…There is also negative non-significant correlation between age of onset and ADHD score. Our results are coincident with previous results who found that the history of childhood ADHD in adults with OCD, , is associated an earlier onset of OCD reflecting a more chronic illness [18,29].…”