Onset of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Premorbid Conditions and Prodromal Phase

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. 31-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Maina ◽  
Umberto Albert ◽  
Filippo Bogetto ◽  
Luigi Ravizza

AbstractThis article focuses on the clinical onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), specifically addressing the of onset, gradual and acute onset, and whether there are some types of premorbid conditions or a prodromal phase that predispose individuals to the onset of OCD. Clinical and epidemiological studies have come to different conclusions regarding age at onset as well as regarding differences between the sexes. Data gleaned from research to date have demonstrated a relationship between OCD and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), although OCPD does not appear to be the more prevalent personality disorder among patients with OCD. Preliminary research has suggested that Axis I disorders may predispose individuals to OCD onset; however, the significance of this relationship remains to be clarified. Evidence of the association between OCD and subthreshold obsessive-compulsive syndrome suggests that these disorders lie on a continuum of severity, with some cases developing OCD while others do not.

1992 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Ronchi ◽  
M Abbruzzese ◽  
S Erzegovesi ◽  
G Diaferia ◽  
G Sciuto ◽  
...  

SummaryThis study presents the clinical and demographic characteristics of a sample of 131 patients, who met DSM III-R criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Our aim was to compare our epidemiological data with non-European research, and to investigate the relationship between OCD symptoms and other clinical features, ie other Axis I concomitant disturbances, personality disorders (Axis II) and family history. Furthermore, we evaluated the age at onset distribution according to sex, family history and presence/absence of a comorbid diagnosis of mood disorder, by means of survival analysis.


1999 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 434-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Bogetto ◽  
S. Venturello ◽  
U. Albert ◽  
G. Maina ◽  
L. Ravizza

SummaryThe purpose of the present study was to investigate the gender-related differences of clinical features in a sample of obsessive-compulsive (OCD) patients. One hundred and sixty outpatients with a principal diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (DSM-IV, Y-BOCS = 16) were admitted. Patients were evaluated with a semi-structured interview covering the following areas: socio-demographic data, Axis I diagnoses (DSM-IV), OCD clinical features (age at onset of OC symptoms and disorder, type of onset, life events and type of course). For statistical analysis the sample was subdivided in two groups according to gender. We found an earlier age at onset of OC symptoms and disorder in males; an insidious onset and a chronic course of illness were also observed in that group of patients. Females more frequently showed an acute onset of OCD and an episodic course of illness; they also reported more frequently a stressful event in the year preceding OCD onset. A history of anxiety disorders with onset preceding OCD and hypomanic episodes occurring after OCD onset was significantly more common among males, while females showed more frequently a history of eating disorders. We found three gender-related features of OCD: males show an earlier age at onset with a lower impact of precipitant events in triggering the disorder; OCD seems to occur in a relative high proportion of males who already have phobias and/or tic disorders; and a surfeit of chronic course of the illness in males in comparison with females.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S497-S497
Author(s):  
F. Perris ◽  
M. Fabrazzo ◽  
V. Prisco ◽  
D. Giacco ◽  
F. Catapano

Different studies have identified specific clinical characteristics of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in comorbidity with schizotypal personality disorder (SPD), although no perspective evaluations of prognosis and response to treatment have been conducted so far. The aims of the present study were to evaluate: (1) the clinical and demographic correlates of OCD patients with comorbid SPD (OCD-SPD) using standardized instruments; (2) the response of OCD-SPD patients to long-term naturalistic pharmacological treatment. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with OCD-SPD were compared to patients with “pure OCD”. OCD-SPD patients were characterized by a greater severity of obsessive-compulsive symptomatology, earlier age at onset, a higher rate of schizophrenia spectrum disorders in their first-degree relatives and a poorer insight. During the observational period, OCD-SPD patients were less likely to achieve remission of their symptomatology and required a greater number of trials with different antipsychotic drugs or received more frequently augmentation with antipsychotics. Our findings suggested that comorbidity with SPD is correlated to a poor treatment response in OCD patients and a reduced likelihood to recover from OCD symptoms, following standard pharmacological treatments. Further research is needed to identify alternative strategies for the management of this cohort of patients.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 274
Author(s):  
Aline P. Vellozo ◽  
Leonardo F. Fontenelle ◽  
Ricardo C. Torresan ◽  
Roseli G. Shavitt ◽  
Ygor A. Ferrão ◽  
...  

Background: Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a very heterogeneous condition that frequently includes symptoms of the “symmetry dimension” (i.e., obsessions and/or compulsions of symmetry, ordering, repetition, and counting), along with aggressive, sexual/religious, contamination/cleaning, and hoarding dimensions. Methods: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence, severity, and demographic and clinical correlates of the symmetry dimension among 1001 outpatients from the Brazilian Research Consortium on Obsessive–Compulsive Spectrum Disorders. The main assessment instruments used were the Dimensional Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale, the Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale, the USP-Sensory Phenomena Scale, the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories, the Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale, and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders. Chi-square tests, Fisher’s exact tests, Student’s t-tests, and Mann–Whitney tests were used in the bivariate analyses to compare patients with and without symptoms of the symmetry dimension. Odds ratios (ORs) with confidence intervals and Cohen’s D were also calculated as effect size measures. Finally, a logistic regression was performed to control for confounders. Results: The symmetry dimension was highly prevalent (86.8%) in this large clinical sample and, in the logistic regression, it remained associated with earlier onset of obsessive–compulsive symptoms, insidious onset of compulsions, more severe depressive symptoms, and presence of sensory phenomena. Conclusions: A deeper knowledge about specific OCD dimensions is essential for a better understanding and management of this complex and multifaceted disorder.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-26
Author(s):  
Sultana Algin ◽  
Mohammad Waliul Hasnat Sajib ◽  
SM Yasir Arafat

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common disorder and usually runs a chronic course with waxing and waning course. It leads to pervasive impairments in multiple domains of life. The aim of the study was to assess the demographic characteristics of the OCD patients and symptom severity of this disorder. This was a cross-sectional study done in OCD clinic of outpatient department (OPD) of BSMMU, during the period from May, 2015 to April, 2017. Four hundred patients fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected consecutively. After taking written consent a predetermined questionnaire was filled for each patient through face-to-face interview. Then patients were evaluated covering the following areas: Axis I diagnoses (DSM-IV) and Y-BOCS severity scale. The results showed that, the mean age of the respondents was 26.6 (SD±9.9) years, ranging from 8 to 63 years. According to Y-BOCS symptoms severity used for adult patients found that majority (70%) of the patients had moderate to severe sufferings. Male had co-morbid anxiety disorders (panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia) more but female patients were found more depressive disorders. Female had more hypothyroidism, diabetes, skin disorders and hypertension than male. These demographic status, co-morbidity profile and symptoms severity can serve as the baseline data for a country like Bangladesh and further large scale, multi-centered study would better generalize the study results. Bang J Psychiatry December 2016; 30(2): 23-26


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