Sex differences in Indian patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Neuroscience
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) exhibits significant heterogeneity.
• Sex has been proposed as a key factor influencing OCD's presentation and course.
• Previous research suggests potential sex-based differences in OCD phenomenology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate sex differences in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
• To compare male and female OCD patients regarding sociodemographics, symptom profiles, and comorbidities.
• To explore how sex influences the phenotypic expression of OCD.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 231 subjects diagnosed with OCD according to DSM-IV criteria was studied.
• Participants underwent comprehensive clinical and semistructured interviews conducted by expert psychiatrists.
• Consensus diagnosis was established, and data from male (n=166) and female (n=65) subjects were compared.

Main Results:

• Males with OCD tended to have an earlier onset, symmetry/religious obsessions, and miscellaneous compulsions.
• Males showed a higher comorbidity with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
• Females were more likely to be married, exhibit cleaning compulsions, and have trichotillomania.

Conclusions:

• The study supports the hypothesis of sex differences in obsessive-compulsive disorder.
• Findings indicate variations in OCD presentation, including symptom clusters and comorbidities, between sexes.
• The phenotypic expression of OCD may result from a complex interplay of biological, personal, and cultural factors.