Background
Obsessive compulsive symptoms (OCS) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) have
been identified frequently in patients with schizophrenia. In most reported studies, those
schizophrenic patients with OCS show worse global functioning than those without OCS.
Aim
The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of OCSs in schizophrenic patients
to evaluate their impact on global functioning, with assessment of relation of wholeblood
serotonin with presence of OCS.
Patients and methods
The study included 50 cases with ICD-10 diagnosis of schizophrenia and 50 healthy
volunteers as the control group. Both groups were assessed for OCSs using the Yale-
Brown obsessive compulsive scale. The Global Assessment of Functioning Scale was
also used to evaluate global functioning of the schizophrenic patients. The whole-blood
serotonin level was measured for our study groups as well.
Results
Thirty-one (62%) patients had OCS, whereas 21 (42%) controls had OCS. Eight (16%)
patients versus only two (4%) controls met the ICD-10 diagnosis for OCD. There was no
difference between patients with OCS versus patients without OCS on the Global
Assessment of Functioning scale, whereas there was high statistical difference between
patients with OCD versus patients without OCD as regards the Global Assessment of
Functioning scale. The highest whole-blood serotonin level was recorded in the control group,
followed by that among schizophrenic patients without OCS and then schizophrenic patients
with OCS, whereas the lowest level was recorded in schizophrenic patients with OCD.
Conclusion
OCS and OCD are more common and more severe in schizophrenic patients than in
general population. The global functioning is worse in the schizophrenic patients with
OCD than in those patients without OCD. Moreover, serotonin dysfunction may be
involved in various mental disorder- related OCS. |
