Obsessive and compulsive symptoms in schizophrenia: clinical and neurocognitive correlates.

Full Abstract

Although research suggests that the presence of obsessive and compulsive symptoms in schizophrenia is associated with graver levels of psychosocial dysfunction, it is unclear whether it is also related to clinical features of illness. Accordingly, the present study compared the symptom levels and neurocognitive function of participants with schizophrenia who had and did not have significant obsessive or compulsive symptoms. Analyses of variance revealed that participants with significant levels of either obsessive or compulsive symptoms (N = 21) had higher levels of positive and emotional discomfort symptoms on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and performed more poorly on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, a measure of executive function, than participants without obsessions or compulsions (N = 25). ANCOVAs controlling for level of obsessions also revealed that participants with significant levels of compulsions (N = 12) in particular had higher levels of negative and positive symptoms on the PANSS than participants without compulsions (N = 34). The impact of obsessive-compulsive phenomena on the course and outcome of schizophrenia is discussed.

Author information

Author/s: Lysaker, P H (PH); Marks, K A (KA); Picone, J B (JB); Rollins, A L (AL); Fastenau, P S (PS); Bond, G R (GR);

Affiliation: Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: The Journal of nervous and mental disease (J Nerv Ment Dis), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2000-Feb; vol 188 (issue 2) : pp 78-83

Dates: Created 2000/03/07; Completed 2000/03/07; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 10695835, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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