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Obsessive-compulsive characteristics: from symptoms to syndrome
A Apter1, T J Fallon, R A King
1Geha Psychiatric Hospital, Sackler School of Medicine, University of Tel Aviv.
Summary
Obsessive-compulsive (OC) phenomena are common in adolescents, with many experiencing symptoms on a continuum. Differentiating between OC phenomena and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in the general population requires further study.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Adolescent Psychology
Background:
- Obsessive-compulsive (OC) phenomena are frequently observed in clinical settings.
- Understanding the prevalence and severity in nonclinical populations is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the distribution and severity of obsessions and compulsions in a nonclinical adolescent population.
- To explore the continuum of OC phenomena in adolescents.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire assessing lifetime presence of eight OC symptoms and three severity measures was administered to 861 sixteen-year-old Israelis during military screening.
- An independent interview was used to ascertain the presence or absence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or subclinical OCD.
Main Results:
- While only 8.0% and 6.3% reported disturbing or intrusive thoughts, 27% to 72% endorsed other OC symptoms.
- Twenty percent found endorsed symptoms senseless, 3.5% found them disturbing, and 8% spent over an hour daily on symptoms.
- OCD and subclinical OCD cases showed significant differences in distress and symptom count compared to non-OCD cases, with marked overlap in symptom distribution across groups.
Conclusions:
- OC phenomena exist on a continuum, ranging from mild symptoms to severe impairment.
- Establishing precise cutoff points to distinguish between OCD and common OC phenomena in the general population remains an unresolved challenge.