Psychiatria pre prax 1/2023

Schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive disorder

Introduction: Up to 25 % of patients with schizophrenia suffer from obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCs), and about 12% fulfil the diagnostic criteria of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Recently, the interest in this issue has significantly increased, probably due to the finding that second-generation antipsychotics, especially clozapine, might induce or aggravate OCs. Our study aimed to describe the research findings concerning the connection between comorbid OCs and the severity and course of schizophrenia. Method: The articles were identified by the keywords „schizophrenia comorbidity“ and „obsessive compulsive disorder“, using the Medline and Web of Science databases. Additional information was obtained by searching the references of relevant articles. Results: Obsessive-compulsive symptoms or fully expressed obsessive-compulsive disorder leads to more severe overall psychopathology and worse treatment outcomes in patients without this symptomatology. The comorbidity is accompanied by more severe increased neurocognitive impairment, high levels of anxiety, depression, and suicidality, larger social and vocational disability, and greater social and health service utilization. Conclusion: schizophrenia patients should be carefully monitored for OCs in clinical practice. The development of these symptoms may occur during disease, and early recognition and targeted treatment of this comorbidity reduce the patient´s distress and positively affect the course of the disorder and overall treatment outcomes

Keywords: schizophrenia, comorbidity, obsessive­‑compulsive disorder, treatment outcome