Obsessive-compulsive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia: associations with coping preference and hope

Although agreement exists regarding the high occurrence of obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms in schizophrenia, it is less clear how OC symptoms are related to the traditional symptoms of schizophrenia and co-occurring deficits. One possibility is that there may be two distinct groups of persons with schizophrenia who experience OC symptoms: one group with poor and another with relatively good function. In the present study, the relationships between OC symptoms, coping, and hope were examined among 67 persons with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. First, participants with significant levels of OC symptoms were compared with participants without OC symptoms. Then, participants with significant levels of both OC symptoms and negative symptoms were compared with participants with negative symptoms, but no OC symptoms, and to participants with neither OC symptoms nor negative symptoms. Analysis of variance revealed participants with significant levels of OC symptoms were significantly more likely to experience greater levels of hopelessness and endorse a preference for avoidant focused coping strategies relative to participants without significant OC symptoms. Participants with both negative symptoms and OC symptoms also had less hope and greater preferences for ignoring stressors than participants with negative symptoms but no OC symptoms and participants with neither OC symptoms nor negative symptoms. Implications for theory, practice and research are discussed.