Exploratory Study of Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms in Schizophrenia

Background: The incidence of Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms (OCS) in schizophrenic patients ranges between 30% and 59%. Interest in this area has been revived recently because of increased recognition of higher than expected comorbidity rates and observations of the emergence or exacerbations of obsessive compulsive symptoms during treatment of psychosis with the atypical antipsychotics. The literature based on the prevalence & clinical correlates of schizophrenia along with obsessive compulsive symptoms are found to be lesser in India, relatively in south India. Thereby this study is focussed on determining the prevalence & correlates of schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive symptoms in a south Indian population. Methodology: The study sample was recruited from Department of psychiatry SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Kattankulathur, Tamilnadu, India. The sample size was 100 schizophrenic subjects who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After obtaining the written informed consent, various scales and assessments of the schizophrenia patients were done. Results: Most of the schizophrenia patients in the study population were females. Most of the schizophrenia patients in the study population belonged to lower socio economic status. Schizophrenia patients with OC symptoms had aggressive, contamination, pathological doubt and sexual obsessions. These patients had checking, cleaning and repeating ritual compulsions.The prevalence of obsessive compulsive symptoms among the schizophrenia patients in this study were 6% (N=6). Conclusion: Among the study population, the schizophrenia patients with OC symptoms had lower level of functioning than those without OC symptoms.