Obsessive‐compulsive symptoms in schizophrenia: Prevalance and clinical correlates

Abstract

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) have been observed in a substantial proportion of schizophrenic patients. In this study, the rate of occurrence of OCS and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in schizophrenic patients, and also the interrelationship between OCS and schizophrenic symptoms and depressive symptoms were assessed. A total of 100 subjects with a diagnosis of schizophrenia from the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) were evaluated by the structured and clinical interview for axis-1 DSM-IV disorders -patient edition (SCID-P), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), and the Calgary Depression Rating Scale for Schizophrenia. The prevalance of OCS in individuals meeting criteria for schizophrenia was 64%. A total of 30 of these patients (Y-BOCS total score ≥ 7) also met the DSM-IV criteria for OCD. The total score on Y-BOCS was significantly correlated with total score on PANSS, Positive-PANSS score, General-PANSS score and total score on Calgary Depression Rating Scale for Schizophrenia. OCS and OCD relatively frequent in schizophrenic patients and OCS are significantly correlated with the severity of psychosis, positive symptoms, and depressive symptoms in schizophrenic patients. These findings provide further evidence for the importance of OCS in schizophrenia.

Cortical and Subcortical 5-HT2A Receptor Binding in Neuroleptic-Naive First-Episode Schizophrenic Patients

“…Furthermore, second-generation antipsychotics are also effective as an add-on to treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (Denys et al, 2007;Skapinakis et al, 2007), and we have previously found increased 5-HT 2A receptor binding in the caudate nuclei of patients with this disease (Adams et al, 2005). The finding of increased 5-HT 2A receptor binding in the caudate nuclei in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder as well as in patients with schizophrenia may suggest a common pathophysiological mechanism in agreement with the frequent occurrence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in schizophrenic patients (Kayahan et al, 2005a, b). If an increase in striatal 5-HT 2A receptor binding is confirmed, the effects could still, however, be mediated through interactions with the dopaminergic system.…”

Obsessive compulsive symptoms in patients with Schizophrenia on Clozapine and with Obsessive Compulsive disorder: A comparison study

“…Indeed Kayahan et al [24] conceded that the severity of schizophrenia symptoms in their study population may have led to an overestimation of OC symptoms and reported that severity of psychosis was related to OC symptoms. This present study found OCI scores correlated with BPRS scores, specifically in terms of Obsessing symptoms and Unusual Thought symptoms, which suggests that OCS may be related to severity of schizophrenia.…”

The neuropsychology of the schizo-obsessive subtype of schizophrenia: a new analysis

“…schizo-obsessives who have a genetic liability for both schizophrenia and OCD (Poyurovsky et al 2003(Poyurovsky et al , 2004Kayahan et al 2005) ; that treatment with atypical antipsychotics (such as clozapine) may unmask OCD previously hidden by schizophrenic symptoms (Ertugrul & Demir 2005) ; or that some, as yet unidentified, factor may predispose individuals both to OCD and to schizophrenia. Thus, greater levels of illness co-morbidity might be predicted in such patients.…”