Obsessive-compulsive disorder in schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the differences in demographic and clinical features of patients with schizophrenia, with or without comorbid obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

METHODS

Fifty-two subjects were recruited from clinical services in the city of Edmonton, Alberta and assessed for schizophrenia and OCD with structured clinical interviews and standardized clinical rating scales.

RESULTS

The prevalence of OCD in individuals meeting criteria for schizophrenia was 25%. Those subjects having both schizophrenia and OCD scored significantly higher on the Y-BOCS, Hollingshead scale, and GAF; plus significantly lower PANSS negative symptoms and a trend in increased Parkinsonian symptoms compared with individuals with schizophrenia alone.

CONCLUSION

Our preliminary findings indicate that patients with schizophrenia and OCD vary in selected demographic and clinical measures when compared to patients with schizophrenia alone. Patients with schizophrenia and OCD appear to have less negative symptoms, which may thus be reflected in the decreased GAF scores. It is speculated that patients with schizophrenia and OCD may have a greater propensity to basal ganglia dysfunction than those with schizophrenia alone resulting in increased Parkinsonian symptoms.