Co-Occurring Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Compulsive Sexual Behavior: Clinical Features and Psychiatric Comorbidities.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) commonly co-occurs with other psychiatric conditions. Though research is limited, there is preliminary evidence that OCD also co-occurs with compulsive sexual behavior (CSB). Yet, few studies have investigated the demographic, clinical, and psychiatric comorbidities associated with co-occurring OCD and CSB. To address this gap, the current study aimed to evaluate rates of co-occurring OCD and CSB, identify demographic and clinical factors associated with comorbid OCD and CSB, and assess associated psychiatric comorbidity. Participants (N = 950) were patients of a large multisite treatment for OCD. Standardized self-report measures were used to assess demographic and clinical characteristics such as anxiety, depression, and severity and dimensions of OCD. Semi-structured interviews including the SCID were used to assess psychiatric comorbidities. A total of 36 (3.8%) of participants met the criteria for CSB. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that males were significantly more likely to present with CSB than females and CSB was associated with greater psychiatric comorbidity, particularly impulse control disorders. These findings suggest that individuals with co-occurring OCD and CSB may have more complex treatment needs, and more tailored interventions may be necessary.

No evidence of attentional bias toward angry faces in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Although attentional bias (AB) toward angry faces is well established in patients with anxiety disorders, it is still poorly studied in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We investigated whether OCD patients present AB toward angry faces, whether AB is related to symptom severity and whether AB scores are associated with specific OCD symptom dimensions. METHOD: Forty-eight OCD patients were assessed in clinical evaluations, intelligence testing and a dot-probe AB paradigm that used neutral and angry faces as stimuli. Analyses were performed with a one-sample t-test, Pearson correlations and linear regression. RESULTS: No evidence of AB was observed in OCD patients, nor was there any association between AB and symptom severity or dimension. Psychiatric comorbidity did not affect our results. CONCLUSION: In accordance with previous studies, we were unable to detect AB in OCD patients. To investigate whether OCD patients have different brain activation patterns from anxiety disorder patients, future studies using a transdiagnostic approach should evaluate AB in OCD and anxiety disorder patients as they perform AB tasks under functional neuroimaging protocols.

Anxiety disorders and rheumatic Fever: is there an association?

INTRODUCTION: Findings suggest that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders, referred to as obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders (OCSDs), are more common in patients with rheumatic fever (RF). OBJECTIVES: To determine whether RF or Sydenham's chorea increases the probability of anxiety disorders in the relatives of individuals with RF with and without SC. METHODS: This was a case-control family study in which 98 probands and 389 first-degree relatives (FDRs) were assessed using structured psychiatric interviews. A Poisson regression model was used to determine whether the presence of any disorder in one family member influences the rate of disorders in the remaining family members. RESULTS: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) occurred more frequently in the FDRs of RF probands than in those of control probands (P=.018). The presence of RF, GAD, or separation anxiety disorder in one family member significantly increased the chance of OCSDs in another member of the family. CONCLUSION: We found familial aggregation among RF, GAD, and OCSDs. Clinicians should be aware of the possible familial relationship between GAD and OCSDs in their RF patients and their family members, which may suggest a genetic component between them. Further studies on OCD should include anxiety disorders to better define OCD spectrum.

No evidence of attentional bias toward angry faces in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Objective: Although attentional bias (AB) toward angry faces is well established in patients with anxiety disorders, it is still poorly studied in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We investigated whether OCD patients present AB toward angry faces, whether AB is related to symptom severity and whether AB scores are associated with specific OCD symptom dimensions. Method: Forty-eight OCD patients were assessed in clinical evaluations, intelligence testing and a dot-probe AB paradigm that used neutral and angry faces as stimuli. Analyses were performed with a one-sample t-test, Pearson correlations and linear regression. Results: No evidence of AB was observed in OCD patients, nor was there any association between AB and symptom severity or dimension. Psychiatric comorbidity did not affect our results. Conclusion: In accordance with previous studies, we were unable to detect AB in OCD patients. To investigate whether OCD patients have different brain activation patterns from anxiety disorder patients, future studies using a transdiagnostic approach should evaluate AB in OCD and anxiety disorder patients as they perform AB tasks under functional neuroimaging protocols.