精神科门诊患者综合使用MMPI、SCL-90、SAS、SDS的相关分析

目的分析精神科门诊中明尼苏达多相人格问卷(MMPI)、症状自评量表(SCL-90)、抑郁自评量表(SDS)和焦虑自评量表(SAS)4种量表联合测评的临床价值是否优于单量表测评。方法纳入2015年1月-10月在深圳市康宁医院精神科特殊门诊就诊的初诊患者,根据《国际疾病分类(第10版)》(ICD-10)对患者进行诊断。共133例患者完成了四个量表评定,采用描述性统计和Pearson相关分析进行统计分析。结果精神科门诊患者MMPI、SCL-90、SDS、SAS评分分别为(590.80±81.00)分、(223.60±66.08)分、(60.82±12.28)分、(54.73±11.71)分,均高于全国常模[(245.49±5.40)分、(129.96±38.76)分、(41.88±10.57)分、(33.80±5.90)分]。MMPI各临床分量表T分≥60分的个体占总体的比例排前5位的分别为抑郁(71.4%)、癔病(71.4%)、精神病态(59.4%)、疑病(58.6%)、精神衰弱(58.6%);SCL-90各因子评分≥2分的个体占总体的比例排前5的别为抑郁(82.0%)、焦虑(79.7%)、强迫状态(78.2%)、其他(76.7%)、人际关系敏感(69.9%)。四个量表评分之间两两呈正相关(r=0.67~0.79,P均0.01)。此外,MMPI大部分临床量表评分与SCL-90、SDS和SAS评分均呈正相关(r=0.21~0.79,P0.05或0.01)。结论 MMPI、SCL-90、SDS和SAS四种量表联合测评可为临床诊断提供更加全面、相互印证的数据支持,可能较单量表测评更具有参考价值。     

强迫障碍与惊恐障碍注意功能的对照研究

目的:探讨强迫障碍患者与惊恐障碍患者注意功能的特征. 方法:采用倒行掩蔽测验(BMT)和连续操作测验(CPT)分别对强迫障碍患者、惊恐障碍患者和健康对照者3组各38例评估其注意的激活度、选择性注意和维持注意功能,以Maudsley强迫障碍症状问卷和Yale-Brown强迫量表对强迫患者评定其强迫症状严重程度. 结果:掩蔽时间分别为30 ms和50 ms时,强迫障碍患者组的BMT正确数显著低于正常对照组(P均＜0.05);无掩蔽时,两组BMT正确数差异无统计学意义;不同情境下,两组CPT正确数之间的差异无统计学意义.惊恐障碍患者在不同掩蔽的BMT正确数、不同情境下的CPT正确数与对照组相比,均无明显差异.掩蔽时间为30 ms和50 ms,强迫障碍患者组的BMT正确数[(5.6±2.5)和(9.2±4.1)]显著低于惊恐障碍组[(7.6±4.2)和(12.1±4.3)],(P均＜0.05);而无掩蔽时,两组BMT正确数以及3种情境下的CPT正确数差异无统计学意义.强迫障碍患者的BMT正确数与Maudsley强迫障碍状问卷、Yale-Brown强迫行为和强迫思维量表的得分无显著相关性. 结论:强迫障碍患者可能存在明显的选择性注意受损,而惊恐患者的注意功能无明显受损.     

躯体形式障碍患者躯体症状自评量表与SCL-90躯体化因子的相关性

目的探讨躯体症状自评量表(SSS)与症状自评量表(SCL-90)躯体化因子是否存在相关性。方法收集符合《精神障碍诊断与统计手册(第4版)》(DSM-IV)诊断标准的躯体化障碍和未分化型躯体形式障碍患者25例,采用自制一般情况调查表、SSS和SCL-90躯体化因子进行记录和评定,将受试者SCL-90躯体化因子评分与中国常模进行比较,分析SCL-90躯体化因子和SSS的相关性。结果受试者SCL-90躯体化因子评分高于中国常模水平[(12.28±7.63)分vs.(1.37±0.48)分,t=7.15,P0.01];躯体化严重程度指数(SSI)和症状数分别为(154.04±38.97)分和(18.0±13.0),SCL-90躯体化因子评分与SSS中的SSI和症状数均呈正相关(r=0.750,0.730,P均0.01)。结论 SSS可作为评估SFD的工具,是SCL-90躯体化因子的补充。     

老年脑梗死患者恢复期情绪障碍的临床研究

目的 探讨老年脑梗死患者恢复期情绪障碍的特点。方法 对87例老年脑梗死患者(病例组)和68例健康老年人(对照组)行症状自评量表(SCL-90)和改良爱丁堡一斯堪的那维亚量表(SSS)评定。结果 病例组SCL-90总分、阳性项目、阳性总分和阳性均分均高于对照组。病例组SCL-90躯体化、强迫、人际关系、抑郁、焦虑、恐怖和精神病性因子均高于对照组。病例组SCL-90总分及因子分与神经功能缺损总分呈正相关。结论 老年脑梗死患者恢复期常见抑郁、焦虑和恐怖等情绪障碍。其情绪障碍与神经功能缺损的严重程度有关。     

抑郁障碍与性心理障碍患者MMPI特点的比较

目的 根据抑郁障碍患者和性心理障碍患者在明尼苏达多项个性测验(Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory,MMPI)各量表项目上的特点,试图通过两者人格特征的不同为临床辅助诊断提供鉴别依据.方法 采用MMPI计算机诊断系统,对我院门诊抑郁障碍患者和性心理障碍患者心理状态进行测试.结果 (1)两组MMPI基本量表分之间的比较结果显示,两组患者在L(说谎)、K(校正)、Hs(疑病)、D(抑郁)、Hy(癔症)、Pt(精神衰弱)上的差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05).(2)两组与性心理相关的量表分之间的比较结果显示,两组患者仅在Mf6(社会退却)上的差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05),在其他方面的差异不具有统计学意义.(3)两组与抑郁相关的量表分之间的比较结果显示,两组患者除了仅在D5(忧思)、DS(隐性抑郁)上的差异不具有统计学意义,在其他方面的差异均具有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 临床可以根据患者MMPI的测查结果分析,比较抑郁障碍患者和性心理障碍患者之间人格特征的不同从而为临床诊断提供鉴别依据.     

情感性障碍患者MMPI模式特点的研究

MMPI测试情感性障碍患者460例,以宋维真等报告的常模为对照,结果发现在躁狂症时有F和Ma等原始分的显著增高,L、K、D、Hy和Si等分的显著降低,中国T分的三点编码为6、8、9,两点编码以96/69或98/89模式为多;抑郁症时有D和Pt等原始分显著增高,男性患者尚有Ma分显著降低,中国T分四点编码为1、2、6、7,两点编码以27/72或21/12模式为多。与躁狂症和抑郁症的诊断符合率分别为76.5和63.0％。     

焦虑症与恐惧症的人格和临床特征的比较

目的探讨焦虑症和恐惧症的人格及临床特征的差异。方法研究对象为符合CCMD-3及DSM-IV的焦虑症(广泛性焦虑和惊恐障碍)和恐惧症(社交恐惧症和惊恐障碍伴广场恐怖),共74例。采用明尼苏达多相人格测定问卷(MMPI)和症状自评量表(SCL-90)对其人格特点和症状特征进行测评,并进行组间比较。结果①社交恐惧症组的MMPI精神分裂症和社会内向分显著高于广泛性焦虑、惊恐障碍和惊恐障碍伴广场恐怖组,②社交恐惧症组的SCL90强迫分和人际关系分、偏执分显著高于广泛性焦虑、惊恐障碍和惊恐障碍伴广场恐怖组,其焦虑分和总分显著高于广泛性焦虑组;广泛性焦虑组的恐怖分显著低于惊恐障碍和惊恐障碍伴广场恐怖组。结论①广泛性焦虑、惊恐障碍和惊恐障碍伴广场恐怖有着共同的人格基础,而与社交恐惧症有所不同;②社交恐惧症的症状评分最高,而广泛性焦虑症状评分最低。     

医学生疑病现象调查及其心理健康状况分析

目的 调查医学生疑病现象,分析医学生心理健康状况.方法 以三年级医学生为研究对象,以MMPI的疑病人格量表、90项症状清单(SCL-90)为主要测评工具,对医学生疑病状况及其心理健康状况进行研究.结果 237份有效问卷中检出有疑病倾向者42例,检出率为17.7%.医学生SCL-90的9个因子中除敌对因子外,其余8个因子分均较我国青年组常模显著增高(P＜0.01);与我国大学生常模相比,医学生躯体化、焦虑、强迫3个因子分显著偏高(P＜0.01),而敌对因子分则显著偏低(P＜0.01).结论 部分医学生存在一定程度的心身症状,医学生中有疑病倾向者比例较高.     

度洛西汀联合喹硫平治疗躯体化障碍的临床研究

目的探讨度洛西汀联合喹硫平治疗躯体化障碍的疗效及安全性。方法 100例躯体化障碍患者随机分为研究组(度洛西汀联合喹硫平组)和对照组(度洛西汀组),疗程8周。用症状自评量表(SCL-90)、汉密尔顿抑郁、焦虑量表(HAMD、HAMA)评定严重程度,用副反应量表(TESS)评定不良反应;用SCL-90躯体化因子分和HAMD量表减分率评定疗效。结果1治疗8周后,两组SCL-90各因子分、HAMD及HAMA分均呈下降趋势;研究组HAMD、HAMA、SCL-90躯体化、强迫、抑郁、焦虑及偏执因子分均较对照组下降显著(P0.05或0.01)。研究组和对照组有效率分别为81.6%和64.0%,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。2研究组和对照组不良反应发生率分别为42%和36%(P0.05),TESS评分为[(5.21±3.60)vs.(4.80±3.80),P0.05]。结论度洛西汀联合喹硫平治疗躯体化障碍疗效优于单用度洛西汀,且安全性好。     

地震后被转移伤员创伤后应激障碍及心理状况分析

目的 调查地震后被转移伤员创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)的发生及其心理健康状况.方法 采用PTSD症状自评和诊断工具及症状自评量表(SCL-90),在地震后40 d对354例被转移伤员的PTSD的发生和心理健康状况进行评估.结果 (1)地震后40 d,有82例(23.2%)伤员发生PTSD,女性55例(55/200,27.5%),男性27例(27/154,17.5%),女性发生率高于男性,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);在不符合PTSD诊断的伤员中,199例(199/249,79.9%)存在再体验症状,164例(164/249,65.9%)存在麻木或回避症状,208例(208/249,83.5%)存在过度唤起症状.(2)PTSD患者的SCL-90总分(209.00±68.78)分、强迫症状因子(2.38±0.61)分、人际关系敏感因子(2.18±0.87)分、抑郁因子(2.50±0.86)分、焦虑因子(2.42±0.90)分、敌对因子(2.47±0.87)分,高于非PTSD患者[(153.08±5.63)分、(1.71±0.64)分、(1.50±0.60)分、(1.71±0.69)分、(1.70±0.76)分、(1.66±0.73)分;P＜0.05,P＜0.01].(3)地震后被转移伤员的SCL-90总分、躯体化、强迫症状、抑郁、焦虑、敌对、恐怖、偏执、精神病性和其他因子得分高于全国常模组(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).结论 地震后部分被转移伤员出现PTSD,相当多的伤员遭受了不同程度的心理影响,应予以长期关注.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate the incidence of post traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) and mental status in the transferred wounded after Wenchuan earthquake. Methods At the 40th day after earthquake, 354 wounded were evaluated by the PTSD Symptoms Self Rating Scale, and Symptom Checklist 90 ( SCL-90 ). The diagnosis of PTSD was made according to DSM-Ⅳ criteria. Results After 40 days, 82( 23.2% )suffered PTSD in these wounded, including 55 females( 55/200,27.5% ) and 27 males( 27/154,17. 5% ), the rate in women was significantly higher than that in men. In those non-PTSD wounded, 199patients 199/249,79.9% ) had re-experienced symptoms, 164 patients( 164/249,65.9% ) had numbness/escaping symptoms, 208 patients( 208/249,83.5% ) had excessive arousing symptoms. The SCL-90 total score( 209.00 ±68.78 ), obsession( 2. 38 ± 0. 61 ), human relation sensitivity( 2. 18 ± 0. 87 ), depression ( 2. 50 ±0. 86 ), anxiety( 2.42 ± 0. 90 ) and hostility factor( 2.47 ± 0. 87 ) score of the PTSD were higher than those of the non-PTSD[( 153.08 ± 5.63 ),( 1.71 ± 0. 64 ),( 1. 50 ± 0. 60 ),( 1.71 ± 0. 69 ),( 1.70 ±0. 76 ),( 1.66 ±0. 73 );P ＜0. 05 -0. 01] . The SCL-90 total score and somatization, obsession, depression,anxiety, hostility, phobia, crankiness, psychosis and the other factor score of the wounded were higher than those of the national norm group( P ＜ 0. 05 - 0. 01 ). Conclusion Considerable number of the transferred wounded existed PTSD symptoms in experienced earthquake disaster, they need to be intervened for a long period.     

Obsessive compulsive symptoms in bipolar disorder patients: a comorbid disorder or a subtype of bipolar disorder?

概述

在过去十年中，人们越来越关注同时符合两种或两种以上精神障碍诊断标准的患者。上述共病情况之一就是双相障碍合并强迫症，这在以双相障碍为主要诊断的患者中比较常见。但是，关于这种共病的诊断和治疗的研究很少，在中国尤为如此。现有的研究主要集中在小样本的横断面研究，因此它们在对理解这种共病情况的病因和病程作用有限。对有限的文献进行回顾发现这是双相障碍中一种相对严重的、难治性的亚型，只有少数情况可以被认为是一种共病障碍。要阐明这种共病的病因、预后以及合适的治疗方法，则需要大样本的前瞻性研究。

中文全文

本文全文中文版从2015年10月26日起在http://dx.doi.org/10.11919/j.issn.1002-0829.215091可供免费阅览下载 The Forum by Peng and Jiang[1] highlights the lack of literature about comorbid bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive (OCD) disorder. To provide a preliminary summary of the available English-language literature, a search of PubMed using three relevant keywords (‘bipolar disorder’, ‘obsessive compulsive disorder’, and ‘comorbidity’) was conducted in July 2015. Only a few of the 176 papers retrieved by this search were directly related to the topic of interest: most of the relevant papers described the incidence and clinical features of comorbid bipolar disorder and OCD in relatively small samples of patients; some discussed the etiology and treatment of the comorbid condition; and a few reported on prospective, multi-center studies with relatively large samples. Bipolar-OCD comorbidity was first reported in a 1995 study from Germany[2] which found that more than half of all patients with bipolar disorder had experienced other mental disorders, including OCD, during the course of the bipolar disorder. The study reported that the prevalence of comorbid OCD was higher in patients with unipolar depression than among patients with bipolar disorder. A subsequent systematic review[3] of 64 relevant articles in 2014 reported that from 11 to 21% of persons with bipolar disorder experience comorbid OCD at some time during the course of their bipolar disorder. Most reports indicate that comorbid OCD exacerbates the symptoms of bipolar disorder and makes the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder more difficult. Compared to OCD patients and bipolar disorder patients without other comorbid conditions, bipolar patients with comorbid OCD have: a) higher rates of obsessive ideas about sex and religion and lower rates of ritual checking;[4] b) higher rates of substance abuse (including use of alcohol, sedatives, caffeine, etc.);[5,6] more episodes of depression, higher rates of suicide, and more frequent admissions to hospitals;[7] and d) more chronic episodes and residual symptoms.[8,9] There were no differences between bipolar patients with and without comorbid OCD in age, gender, education, marital status, age of onset of bipolar disorder, personality, prevalence of psychotic symptoms or rapid cycling, history of suicide attempts, the type of initial bipolar episode (i.e., depressed or manic), and the type of episode that was most prevalent throughout the course of bipolar disorder.[9] The systematic review by Amerio and colleagues[3] found that compared to bipolar patients without comorbid OCD, patients with bipolar disorder with comorbid OCD were more likely to experience OCD symptoms during an affective disorder episode (75% v. 3%), had a higher mean (sd) number of depressive episodes (8.9 [4.2] v. 4.1 [2.7] episodes), and were more likely to experience an antidepressant-induced manic episode (39% v. 9%). They also found that among patients with comorbid bipolar disorder and OCD, OCD symptoms were more like to occur during depressive episodes than manic episodes (78% v. 64%). Based on their findings, these authors argue that the obsessive-compulsive symptoms observed in these patients were secondary to bipolar disorder, not a co-occurring independent disorder.[3] Following this logic, I recommend that the occurrence of obsessivecompulsive symptoms during the depressive (or manic) episodes of a bipolar disorder should not be sufficient to merit a diagnosis of comorbid bipolar disorder and OCD; this comorbid diagnosis should be restricted to situations in which a patient with bipolar disorder also meets the full OCD symptomatic and duration criteria when the patient is not experiencing a depressive or manic episode. There are only a few articles about the possible etiology of bipolar-OCD comorbidity. A long-term family study based on a multi-generational dataset[10] (cases registered from January 1969 to 2009 included 19, 814 with OCD, 58, 336 with schizophrenia, 48, 180 with bipolar disorders, and 14, 904 with schizoaffective disorder) found familial associations among individuals with bipolar disorder, OCD, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. There are also few reports about the long-term prognosis of comorbid bipolar disorder and OCD. One study[11] that followed 20 patients with bipolar disorder without comorbid disorders and 20 patients with comorbid bipolar disorder and OCD for 4 years found no significant differences in the long-term outcomes between the two groups. The treatment of bipolar-OCD comorbidity is difficult because the use of antidepressants to treat obsessive compulsive disorder may induce manic episodes. The existing literature about the treatment is primarily composed of case reports, retrospective cross-sectional studies, and a few treatment studies with small samples. A recent systematic review that combined the results of four treatment studies[12] found that 42% of patients with comorbid bipolar disorder and OCD were simultaneously treated with multiple mood stabilizers and another 10% needed combined treatment with mood stabilizers and anti-psychotic medications. One of the four studies reported that the combined use of antidepressants and mood stabilizers was effective and another study reported that some patients benefitted from the combined use of mood stabilizers and psychological therapy.[11] Based on currently available information, I recommend that patients with comorbid bipolar disorder and OCD be initially treated with mood stabilizers; if mono-therapy with mood stabilizers is ineffective, adjunctive treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (which are less likely to induce mania) should be considered. In my opinion, the basic treatment for bipolar-OCD is mood stabilizers and could be combined with antidepressants if the patients do not respond to the single treatment (ineffective). Despite ongoing debates about the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of comorbid bipolar disorder and OCD, the clinicians who regularly treat bipolar patients need more high-quality, evidence-based information to improve their identification and management of this relatively severe and refractory subgroup of bipolar patients. Well-designed prospective studies with relatively large samples that are specifically focused on this important subgroup of bipolar disorder patients are needed.     

Multiple anxiety disorder comorbidity in patients with mood spectrum disorders with psychotic features

OBJECTIVE: The authors investigated frequencies and clinical correlates of multiple associations of panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and social phobia in patients with severe mood disorders. METHOD: Subjects were 77 consecutively hospitalized adults with psychotic symptoms and with a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder, major depression, or schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. Principal diagnosis and comorbidity were assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R-Patient Version. RESULTS: Of the entire cohort, 33.8% had a single anxiety disorder and 14.3% had two or three comorbid diagnoses. Patients with multiple comorbidity had significantly higher scores on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and SCL-90 and abused stimulants more frequently than did those without anxiety disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple associations of panic disorder, OCD, and social phobia are not rare among patients with affective psychoses and are likely to be associated with more severe psychopathology than is found in patients without anxiety disorders.     

Impact of obsessive‐compulsive disorder on the antimanic response to olanzapine therapy in youth with bipolar disorder

Joshi G, Mick E, Wozniak J, Geller D, Park J, Strauss S, Biederman J. Impact of obsessive‐compulsive disorder on the antimanic response to olanzapine therapy in youth with bipolar disorder.
Bipolar Disord 2010: 12: 196–204. © 2010 The Authors.
Journal compilation © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Objective: To compare antimanic response to olanzapine therapy in youth with bipolar disorder (BPD) based on the status of comorbidity with obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods: Secondary analysis of identically designed 8‐week open‐label trials of olanzapine therapy in youth with BPD. Severity of mania assessed with the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scales. Results: Of the 52 BPD subjects (mean age 8.4 ± 3.1 years) enrolled in the olanzapine trials (mean dose 8.5 ± 4.3 mg/day), 39% (n = 20) met criteria for comorbid OCD. Antimanic response in BPD subjects was significantly worse in the presence of comorbid OCD (YMRS mean reduction: ?5.9 ± 13.1 versus ?13.7 ± 18.8, p = 0.04; ≥ 30% reduction: 25% versus 63%, p = 0.008; CGI‐Improvement score ≤ 2: 25% versus 68%, p = 0.003). There was no difference in the rate of dropouts (50% versus 29%, p = 0.2) or adverse effects in BPD subjects with or without comorbid OCD. Conclusions: Less than expected antimanic response to olanzapine therapy in the presence of comorbidity with OCD suggests that OCD is an important functionally impairing psychiatric comorbidity that may impact the efficacy of antimanic agents in youth with BPD. This study is limited by its design of secondary analysis of data from trials of an uncontrolled nature. Further prospective controlled trials are warranted.     

青少年期起病的双相障碍与强迫症共病研究

目的：探讨青少年期起病的双相障碍与强迫症共病患者的临床特征。方法：选择双相障碍和强迫症共病患者（共病组）36例及强迫症患者（OCD组）31例，完成自编调查问卷、强迫症量表（Y-BOCS）测评。结果：OCD组的男性比例高于共病组；共病组的强迫症病程、平均治疗时间长于OCD组。结论：双相障碍与强迫症共病是常见的临床现象，共病对患者的病程及疗效均有影响。     

Impact of obsessive-compulsive disorder comorbidity on the sociodemographic and clinical features of patients with bipolar disorder

Background

In this study, our aim is to determine the prevalence rates of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) comorbidity and to assess the impact of OCD comorbidity on the sociodemographic and clinical features of patients with bipolar disorder (BD).

Methods

Using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale Symptom Checklist and Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition-IV/Clinical Version on bipolar patients, 2 groups, BD with OCD comorbidity (BD-OCD) and BD without OCD comorbidity, were formed. These groups were compared for sociodemographic and clinical variables.

Results

Of 214 patients with BD, 21.9% of them had obsession and/or compulsion symptoms and 16.3% had symptoms at the OCD level. Although there was no statistically significant difference between the frequency of comorbid OCD in BD-I (22/185, 11.9%) and BD-II (3/13, 23.1%) patients, but OCD was found to be significantly high in BD not otherwise specified (10/16, %62.5) patients than BD-I (P < .001) and BD-II (P = .03). Six patients (17.1%) of the BD-OCD group had chronic course (the presence of at least 1 mood disorder episode with a duration of longer than 2 years), whereas the BD without OCD group had none, which was statistically significant. There were no statistically significant differences between BD-OCD and BD without OCD groups in terms of age, sex, education, marital status, polarity, age of BD onset, presence of psychotic symptoms, presence of rapid cycling, history of suicide attempts, first episode type, and predominant episode type.

Limitations

Main limitation of our study was the assessment of some variables based on retrospective recall.

Conclusions

Our study confirms the high comorbidity rates for OCD in BD patients. Future studies that examine the relationship between OCD and BD using a longitudinal design may be helpful in improving our understanding of the mechanism of this association.     

Comorbid Personality Disorders in Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder and Its Symptom Dimensions

The current paper was aimed at: (1) investigating the comorbidity between obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and personality disorders (PDs) using an OCD sample and clinician-administered structured interviews; (2) exploring the associations of different cluster comorbid PDs with the specific symptom dimensions of OCD; (3) analyzing the variables which could play a significant role in the probability of having at least one comorbid PD, controlling for confounding variables. The SCID-II and Y-BOCS, together with a series of self-report measures of OCD, depression and anxiety symptoms were administered to a clinical sample of 159 patients with a primary diagnosis of OCD. 20.8 % of the participants suffered from at least one comorbid PD; the most common was obsessive–compulsive PD (9.4 %), followed by narcissistic PD (6.3 %). In OCD patients with comorbid cluster C PDs, the percentage of responsibility for harm, injury, or bad luck symptoms was significantly greater than other OCD symptom dimensions (p < .005). Logistic regression found some evidence supporting the association between severity of OCD symptoms and comorbid PDs. PDs are prevalent among Italian people with OCD and should be routinely assessed, as comorbidity may affect help-seeking behaviour and response to treatment.     

Postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder: prevalence and clinical characteristics

Objective

The principal aims of this study were to examine the prevalence rate, clinical characteristics, and related factors of postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Method

The subjects were a nonclinical sample of 400 postpartum women. They were interviewed from the 2nd up to the 26th week after birth. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used for diagnosis of OCD, the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Symptom Checklist was used to determine the types of obsessions and compulsions, and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders was used to diagnose comorbid depressive episode.

Results

Thirty-six (9%) of the sample met the diagnostic criteria for OCD according to the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, and 9 (2.3%) reported postpartum onset OCD. Obsessive-compulsive disorder was more frequent in mothers with personal history of previous psychiatric disorder, somatic disease, or obstetric complication in pregnancy/birth, and who were multiparous. The most common obsessions were aggressive, contamination and miscellaneous, and compulsion for washing/cleaning and checking, and 38.9% have a comorbid depressive episode.

Conclusion

Women have increased risk of OCD or obsessive-compulsive symptoms in the postpartum period. For this reason, all women, particularly women with previous psychiatric history, somatic disease, or with complications in pregnancy or at the birth should be carefully screened for OCD in the postpartum period.     

Comorbidity of obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in referred children and adolescents

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore whether comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects the clinical expression and outcome of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in a clinical sample. METHOD: A consecutive series of 94 children and adolescents (mean age, 13.6 +/- 2.8 years) with current diagnosis of OCD were included in the study. Twenty-four (25.5%) patients were diagnosed as having a comorbid ADHD. Subjects with OCD plus ADHD were compared with subjects with OCD but without ADHD. RESULTS: Comorbid ADHD with OCD was significantly associated with a higher rate of males, an earlier onset of OCD, a greater psychosocial impairment, and a heavier comorbidity, namely, with bipolar disorder, tic disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder. Phenomenology of obsessions and compulsions and outcome were not affected by ADHD comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS: A screening for ADHD should be performed in patients with OCD, as these patients and their parents are frequently not aware that the impairment may be partly due to a comorbid ADHD.     

A cytokine study in children and adolescents with Tourette's disorder

Background

While immune system dysregulation has been postulated to play a role in Tourette's disorder (TD), most research has focused on the hypothesis of an autoimmune process similar to rheumatic fever. This study examined the potential role of cytokines, modulators of the immune system. We hypothesized that children with TD would have increased levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-12, IL-1β and IL-6, and decreased IL-2. We also explored whether comorbid obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) had an effect on the cytokine profile of TD patients.

Method

Thirty-two children and adolescents with TD (27 males, ages 7–18 years), 17 with comorbid OCD (14 males), and 16 healthy comparison subjects (7 males, ages 9–19), were enrolled. Plasma cytokines were examined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The Mann–Whitney and binary logistic regression tests were used to compare the groups.

Results

Only patients with comorbid OCD (TD+OCD; n = 17) had significantly elevated IL-12 plasma levels compared to controls (2.73 ± 5.12 pg/ml vs. 0.55 ± 0.88 pg/ml, rank statistic = 222.5; p < 0.04). IL-2 was significantly higher in the TD+OCD subgroup compared to the non-OCD TD subgroup (0.74 ± 0.29 pg/ml vs. 0.49 ± 0.24 pg/ml, rank statistics = 108.5; p < 0.03). There were no other significant cytokine differences between groups.

Conclusions

Findings suggest a role for IL-12 and IL-2 in TD, and that the TD+OCD subgroup may involve different neuroimmunological functions than the TD−OCD subgroup. Larger studies with medication-free patients should follow.     

Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia in OCD patients: Clinical profile and possible treatment implications

Objective

Panic Disorder (PD) and agoraphobia (AG) are frequently comorbid with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), but the correlates of these comorbidities in OCD are fairly unknown. The study aims were to: 1) estimate the prevalence of PD with or without AG (PD), AG without panic (AG) and PD and/or AG (PD/AG) in a large clinical sample of OCD patients and 2) compare the characteristics of individuals with and without these comorbid conditions.

Method

A cross-sectional study with 1001 patients of the Brazilian Research Consortium on Obsessive–Compulsive Spectrum Disorders using several assessment instruments, including the Dimensional Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders. Bivariate analyses were followed by logistic regression models.

Results

The lifetime prevalence of PD was 15.3% (N = 153), of AG 4.9% (N = 49), and of PD/AG 20.2% (N = 202). After logistic regression, hypochondriasis and specific phobia were common correlates of the three study groups. PD comorbidity was also associated with higher levels of anxiety, having children, major depression, bipolar I, generalized anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorders. Other independent correlates of AG were: dysthymia, bipolar II disorder, social phobia, impulsive–compulsive internet use, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Patients with PD/AG were also more likely to be married and to present high anxiety, separation anxiety disorder, major depression, impulsive–compulsive internet use, generalized anxiety, posttraumatic stress and binge eating disorders.

Conclusions

Some distinct correlates were obtained for PD and AG in OCD patients, indicating the need for more specific and tailored treatment strategies for individuals with each of these clinical profiles.