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Distinct risk factors for obsessive and compulsive symptoms in chronic schizophrenia

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Fernandez Egea, Emilio  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4128-8955
worbe, yulia 
bernardo, Miguel 
Robbins, Trevor W 

Abstract

Objective: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is common in clozapine-treated patients alt-hough the actual prevalence, phenomenology and risk factors remain unclear. The aim of the pre-sent study was to address the three aforementioned questions. Method: The electronic records of a large cohort of clozapine-medicated schizophrenia patients routinely screened for OCD were used. The Obsessive Compulsive Inventory Revised version (OCI-R) was available from 118 cases and a 21 points cut-off threshold for OCD was defined. Results: OCD prevalence was 47%, higher in patients on poly-pharmacy than on monotherapy (64% vs 31%; p=.001). Two OCI-R factors had significantly higher scores and distinct risk factors: checking behaviour (mean=5.1; SD=3.6) correlated with length of clozapine treatment (r=.21; p=.026), and obsessing factor (mean=4.8; SD=3.6) correlated with psychosis severity (r=.59; p=.001). These factors along with total OCI-R, did not correlate with either clozapine dose or plas-ma levels, after correcting for psychosis severity. Conclusion: Screening for OCD in clozapine patients, and probably in those treated with structur-ally similar drugs with potent antiserotoninergic properties, should be widely adopted by clinicians. Further research is needed to understand the pathophysiology underlying repetitive behavior onset in clozapine-treated patients.

Description

Keywords

antipsychotics, habit formation, clozapine, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder

Journal Title

Psychological Medicine

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0033-2917
1469-8978

Volume Title

Publisher

Cambridge University Press
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (G1000183)
Wellcome Trust (104631/Z/14/Z)
Medical Research Council (G0001354)
Dr. Fernandez-Egea was supported by 2009 Young investigator award and intramural funding from CPFT/NIHR-CRN supported setting the database. Prof. Bernardo is funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education, the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competiveness, Centro de Inves-tigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), from the Government of Catalonia, Secretaria d’Universitats i Recerca del Departament d’Economia i Coneixement (2014SGR441), from the Foundation European Group for Research In Schizophrenia (EGRIS) , and from the 7th Framework Program of the European Union. Dr. Y Worbe is supported by Association Française du syndrome de Gilles de la Tourette, Founda-tion de recherche Medicale and Dystonia Foundation for Medical Research (USA). Prof. TW Robbins' research is funded by a Wellcome Senior Investigator Award (104631/Z/14/Z). Work was completed at the Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, which was supported by a joint award from the Medical Research Council and Wellcome Trust (G00001354).