Towards a definitive symptom structure of obsessive-compulsive disorder: a factor and network analysis of 87 distinct symptoms in 1366 individuals.

BACKGROUND: The symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are highly heterogeneous and it is unclear what is the optimal way to conceptualize this heterogeneity. This study aimed to establish a comprehensive symptom structure model of OCD across the lifespan using factor and network analytic techniques. METHODS: A large multinational cohort of well-characterized children, adolescents, and adults diagnosed with OCD (N = 1366) participated in the study. All completed the Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, which contains an expanded checklist of 87 distinct OCD symptoms. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used to outline empirically supported symptom dimensions, and interconnections among the resulting dimensions were established using network analysis. Associations between dimensions and sociodemographic and clinical variables were explored using structural equation modeling (SEM). RESULTS: Thirteen first-order symptom dimensions emerged that could be parsimoniously reduced to eight broad dimensions, which were valid across the lifespan: Disturbing Thoughts, Incompleteness, Contamination, Hoarding, Transformation, Body Focus, Superstition, and Loss/Separation. A general OCD factor could be included in the final factor model without a significant decline in model fit according to most fit indices. Network analysis showed that Incompleteness and Disturbing Thoughts were most central (i.e. had most unique interconnections with other dimensions). SEM showed that the eight broad dimensions were differentially related to sociodemographic and clinical variables. CONCLUSIONS: Future research will need to establish if this expanded hierarchical and multidimensional model can help improve our understanding of the etiology, neurobiology and treatment of OCD.

Psychometric properties of the DY-BOCS in a Turkish sample of children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DY-BOCS) is a promising scale for assessing frequency and severity of symptom dimensions. The main objective of the study was to assess the psychometric properties of the DY-BOCS in a large sample of children and adolescents from Turkey. METHODS: We studied 143 children and adolescents, 7-18years, with well characterized DSM-IV-R OCD, ascertained from seven collaborating university or state hospital sites. We compared the DY-BOCS scores with the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS), the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) and the Child Behavior Checklist 6-18years (CBCL 6-18). RESULTS: The internal consistency of the DY-BOCS symptom dimensions and inter-rater agreement of component scores were excellent. The agreement between global DY-BOCS score and the total CY-BOCS score was highly significant (Pearson's r=0.55, p<0.0001). Severity scores for individual symptom dimensions were independent of one another, only modestly correlating with the global ratings, and were also differentially related to ratings of depression, anxiety and tic severity. CONCLUSION: The DY-BOCS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing multiple aspects of OCD symptom severity in children and adolescents from Turkey.

Cognitive Flexibility and Social Responsiveness in Children and Adolescents with Tourette Syndrome.

This study examined cognitive flexibility and social responsiveness in children and adolescents with Tourette Syndrome (TS). Thirty one subjects with TS were compared to 32 age-matched healthy controls. Assessments included semi-structured interviews to assess psychopathology, parent-rated Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and a brief neuropsychological battery selected as measures of cognitive flexibility. Completion time for both Trail Making Tests (TMT-A and TMT-B) were significantly longer for TS group than controls, however the difference in perseverative errors on Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) was not significant. SRS total score was significantly higher in the TS group compared to controls, indicating greater impairment in social responsiveness. Group difference for TMTs and SRS failed to reach significance after controlling for co-occurring conditions. Clinicians might consider social impairment in the evaluation plan of children and adolescents with Tourette syndrome.

Use of Multiple Informants to Identify Children at High Risk for ADHD in Turkish School-Age Children.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the distribution of parent- and teacher-rated ADHD symptoms in a Turkish community sample to identify children at high risk for ADHD and to explore the psychosocial correlates of these high-risk children. METHOD: An 18-item SNAP-IV (Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham) and a three-item impairment scale were completed by parents and teachers on 3,110 children between 7 and 14 years of age from three public schools in Istanbul. RESULTS: Using various case definitions for ADHD, we observed a range of prevalence estimates based on parent (2.7%-9.6%) and teacher (2%-10.1%) reports. Teacher-identified ADHD was associated with low family income and low parental education; parent-identified ADHD was associated with perceived need for mental health treatment. CONCLUSION: Statistically driven threshold on a symptom scale may overestimate the rate of high-risk children. Relying on one informant is likely to miss some children at high risk. As in clinical practice, therefore, data from multiple informants and evidence of impairment are essential for identifying ADHD.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Migraine Patients: Migraine, Trauma and Alexithymia.

INTRODUCTION: In recent studies, it has been suggested that there is a relationship between migraine headaches and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The PTSD has not been diagnosed by a clinician in these studies; the evaluation has been carried out by the screening scales. Besides, it has also been asserted that there was relationship of alexithymia with migraine and other chronic painful disorders. In this study, our aim was to investigate the prevalence of clinically-diagnosed PTSD and alexithymic features among migraine patients. METHODS: Sixty consecutive migraine patients sent from neurology clinic and 60 healthy controls having similar features constituted the sample of this study. SCID-I/CV PTSD module and the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) was administered to the sample. The subjects also filled in the socio-demographic data form and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS). The level of pain perceived by the migraine patients was evaluated using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). RESULT: 17 subjects (28%) in the migraine group and 5 individuals (8.3%) in the control group were diagnosed with PTSD. Hence, PTSD was found to be statistically significantly higher in the migraine group. 25 persons in the migraine group (41.6%) and 12 in the control group (20%) scored above the TAS cutoff score in terms of alexithymic features. Alexithymia was found to be statistically significantly higher in the migraine group). In the migraine group, VAS scores of the ones with PTSD were statistically significantly higher compared to that in ones without PTSD. 94% of the persons diagnosed with PTSD in the migraine group reported that their migraine headaches started after a traumatic experience. In the migraine group, no statistically significant correlation was detected between CAPS and VAS scores in subjects with PTSD. CONCLUSION: In migraine patients, PTSD and alexithymic features have been found higher than in the healthy controls. Further studies are needed to search whether the practices aimed at treating the PTSD and alexithymic features can contribute to the treatment of migraine headaches or not.

Differences in Affective Temperaments in Anxiety Disorders: Comparison of Panic Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, probable differences in affective temperament among anxiety disorders were investigated via a comparison of panic disorder (PD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). METHOD: 44 patients with OCD and 42 patients with PD, who were admitted to Bakirkoy Prof. Dr. Mazhar Osman Research and Training Hospital for Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery outpatient clinics with complaints of OCD and PD and were diagnosed according to DSM IV criteria, were consecutively included in the study after informed consent was taken. A sociodemographic form, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID I), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Beck Anxiety Inventory, Panic and Agoraphobia Scale, Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and the temperament evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A) were given to the patients. PD and OCD patients were compared in terms of affective temperament characteristics. RESULTS: Mean age, educational status and gender distribution of OCD and PD patients were similar (p>0.05). Dominant depressive temperament was more prominent in OCD group than in PD group (p=0.021). Hyperthymic temperament scores were higher in PD group than in OCD group (p=0.002). Dominant hyperthymic temperament was not encountered in either group. CONCLUSION: Dominant depressive temperament was more prominent in OCD group whereas hyperthymic temperament scores were higher in PD group. These findings should be evaluated in studies with larger sample sizes.