Uncomplicated and complicated obsessive-compulsive disorder: an exploratory study from India

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) frequently co-occurs with other Axis I disorders.
• Limited data exist on Axis I comorbidity in OCD patients from the Indian subcontinent.
• Previous research suggests potential unique characteristics of Indian OCD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and patterns of Axis I comorbidity in Indian OCD patients.
• To compare OCD patients with comorbid Axis I disorders against those with pure OCD.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study included 54 patients diagnosed with OCD (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition).
• Axis I comorbidity was assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition-I.
• Patients were evaluated using standardized scales for obsessive-compulsive, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.

Main Results:

• Axis I comorbidity was present in 64.8% of the sample.
• The most common comorbid conditions were depression (38.88%), panic disorder (7.40%), and phobias (7.40%).
• Patients with comorbid Axis I disorders showed higher scores on psychopathological scales, except for the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale compulsion subscale.

Conclusions:

• The frequency and pattern of Axis I comorbidity in OCD in India are comparable to international findings.
• Further long-term, multicenter epidemiological studies are needed to understand the development and impact of comorbidity in OCD.