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Clinicians' views on management of obsessive-compulsive disorders in children and adolescents.

Research on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in children and adolescents has led to important developments with clinical implications as regards assessment and treatment. These developments have resulted in new guidelines and recommendations as to what is regarded to be an adequate treatment of the disorder. The objective of the present study was to examine if these developments have led to changes in the views on clinical management of childhood OCD among child psychiatry personnel in Norway. A national survey was conducted by means of a questionnaire addressing preferences and practices among clinicians in their assessment and management of OCD, the clinicians self-reported experienced treatment success, and need to develop clinical skills on assessing and treating childhood OCD. Seventy-nine clinicians (58.5%) responded. The results showed that cognitive/behavioural, family and medication approaches were preferred over psychodynamic and humanistic approaches in the management of OCD. The preferred cognitive/behavioural approach seems to be more cognitive than behavioural, and only one-third of clinicians reported frequent use of anxiety-provoking methods in treatment of childhood OCD. Clinicians that self-rated the Clinical Global Improvement Scale on their last treated OCD case indicated moderate treatment success. Because of low numbers of OCD cases in the clinics, the majority of clinicians are rated as inexperienced in the management of the disorder and results show a need for adequate training opportunities. It is concluded that clinicians have accommodated to recommended standards in the management of childhood OCD, but some results are contradictory and do not justify conclusive statements. The study needs to be supplemented by research focusing on more specific elements of the preferred treatments, thus narrowing the scope of the present study.

Adolescent↗

Impact of comorbid depressive symptoms on nonverbal memory and visuospatial performance in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Recent research has suggested that some executive dysfunctions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) represent an epiphenomenon of comorbid depressive symptoms. The present study investigated whether the impact of comorbid depressive symptoms on cognitive dysfunction in OCD extends to nonverbal memory impairment. METHODS: A total of 32 OCD patients and 20 healthy controls took part in the study. Participants were administered a neurocognitive battery with a focus on nonverbal memory and visuospatial functions. RESULTS: While evidence was provided that neurocognitive processes necessitating visuospatial transformation and visuoconstruction are deficient in OCD patients regardless of comorbid depressive symptoms, nonverbal memory dysfunctions were only apparent for patients with elevated scores in the Hamilton Depression (HDRS) Rating Scale (total score > or = 8). Correlations with subscores of the HDRS revealed that core depressive symptoms are related to nonverbal memory deficits in OCD. Mental rotation, middle discrimination, and position discrimination were found to be unaffected in OCD. Y-BOCS scores, length of illness, onset of illness, number of hospital admissions, and checking compulsions were not associated with neurocognitive disturbances. CONCLUSIONS: Nonverbal memory is disturbed in only a subgroup of OCD patients displaying elevated HDRS scores (HDRS > or = 8). It is claimed but awaits further empirical testing that differences in depression profile across OCD studies have contributed to inconsistencies in prior investigations on neurocognitive functioning in OCD. Our results are questioning the hypothesis that nonverbal deficits are a causal factor for the development of checking compulsions.

Journal Article↗

Antipsychotic treatment in obsessive-compulsive disorder: a literature review.

OBJECTIVE: To review the role of antipsychotic medications in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); to explore current hypothesized conceptualizations of their mechanism of action; to highlight evolving interest in the validation of meaningful OCD subtypes within a heterogeneous spectrum of OCD, based on treatment response and other psychobiological variables. METHOD: A computerized literature search (MEDLINE: 1966 to December 2003, EMBASE: 1982 to December 2003) was used to locate relevant literature, using the terms obsessive-compulsive, antipsychotic and subtypes, with no restrictions imposed on searches. RESULTS: Earlier studies of augmentation of serotonergic antidepressants (SRIs) with typical antipsychotics including haloperidol and pimozide in OCD demonstrated favourable responses, also highlighting patient subgroups with robust treatment response. Studies examining augmentation with atypical agents are emerging. SRI-resistant OCD patients are likely to benefit from augmentation with atypical antipsychotics in around 50% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: While there is little role for antipsychotic monotherapy in OCD, there is growing evidence in support of adjunctive antipsychotics in OCD refractory to serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SRIs). Further controlled trials are warranted. Particular subgroups of OCD patients, notably those with comorbid tic disorder and those with schizotypal personality disorder, have been shown to respond more robustly to augmentation strategies in some trials of both typical and atypical antipsychotics. Dopaminergic mediation with or without a moderating effect on serotonergic systems is likely to be important in the pharmacodynamic mechanisms of action of antipsychotic-SRI combinations in OCD.

Antipsychotic Agents↗

Impact of comorbidity on treatment response to paroxetine in pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder: is the use of exclusion criteria empirically supported in randomized clinical trials?

OBJECTIVE: To examine the influence of psychiatric comorbidity on response and relapse rates in children and adolescents treated with paroxetine for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). METHODS: Patients responding following 16 weeks of treatment (phase I) were randomized to continued paroxetine or to placebo for 16 additional weeks (phase II). OCD response (phase I) and relapse (phase II) criteria were based on the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement Scale and the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale. The presence of OCD and other psychiatric disorders was ascertained using the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version interview. RESULTS: At entry, 193 of 335 (57.6%) patients had at least one psychiatric disorder in addition to OCD, and 102 of 335 (30.4%) had multiple other disorders. Although the response rate to paroxetine in the overall population was high (71%), the response rates in patients with comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, tic disorder, or oppositional defiant disorder (56%, 53%, and 39%, respectively) were significantly less than in patients with OCD only (75%) (intent-to-treat population, last observation carried forward analysis, p < 0.05). Psychiatric comorbidity was associated with a greater rate of relapse in the total patient population (46% for one or more comorbid disorders [p = 0.04] and 56% for two or more comorbid disorders [p < 0.05] vs. 32% for no comorbidity). CONCLUSIONS: The results of these post hoc analyses show that comorbid illness adversely impacted response to pharmacotherapy with paroxetine in pediatric OCD and significantly increased risk of relapse following withdrawal from treatment. Continued paroxetine treatment reduced the relapse rates in all groups compared with placebo, including those with comorbid illness. Because pediatric OCD is frequently comorbid with other psychiatric disorders, results of randomized, controlled pediatric OCD trials that use multiple exclusion criteria may not generalize to more naturalistic OCD samples.

Adolescent↗

Course of obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents: a prospective follow-up study of 23 Danish cases.

OBJECTIVE: The course of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in childhood and adolescence was analyzed. METHOD: Twenty-three (88%) of 26 children and adolescents with OCD, all referred to a county child psychiatric clinic as inpatients or outpatients, were longitudinally evaluated every 6 months for obsessive-compulsive symptomatology. At follow-up, 1 1/2 to 5 years after referral (mean follow-up time 3.2 years, SD 1.1), obsessive-compulsive as well as comorbid symptomatology was assessed and compared with that of an age- and sex-matched child psychiatric control group. RESULTS: Approximately one half of the children and adolescents retained an OCD diagnosis at follow-up. One third of these had an episodic course of the illness, and two thirds had chronic OCD. None in the control group had clinical OCD at follow-up, but three had subclinical obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Thirteen of the probands with OCD received medication (either clomipramine or citalopram) for a period of 1/2 to 2 years (mean 1.4 years). Medication seemed to reduce the severity of OCD in most cases. CONCLUSIONS: This short-term but intensive study supported theories of OCD as an illness with fluctuating severity. Previous findings, that OCD seems to be chronic in approximately half of the cases, were supported by this study.

Adolescent↗

Female hormones affect symptom severity in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

There is circumstantial evidence that reproductive events can influence symptom severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We sent self-report questionnaires to 350 female outpatients with OCD to examine the relationship between the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menopause, hormonal contraceptives, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and symptom severity of OCD. Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale scores were used at three serial time points during the menstrual cycle to assess symptom severity. One hundred and one out of 350 questionnaires (29%) were returned and completed. Forty-nine patients reported an exacerbation of OCD symptoms during the premenstrual period, nine during the menopause and 17 patients during pregnancy, whereas 11 patients mentioned improvement of OCD symptoms during pregnancy. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder could only partly explain a premenstrual exacerbation of OCD symptoms. Exacerbation of OCD could be related to reproductive events in a considerable number of patients, especially the premenstrum. Because reproductive cycle events influence the symptom severity of OCD, the menstrual cycle should be taken into account when assessing the severity of OCD symptoms during pharmacological studies.

Adult↗

The prevalence of clinically recognized obsessive-compulsive disorder in a large health maintenance organization.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as recognized in clinical settings. The authors report data on the prevalence of clinically recognized OCD in a large, integrated, group practice health maintenance organization (HMO). METHOD: The authors examined the database of outpatient diagnoses for the 1.7 million people (age >or=6) in the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento who were continuously enrolled in Kaiser Permanente from May 1995 through April 1996. OCD diagnoses were confirmed by chart review. RESULTS: The 1-year prevalence of clinically recognized OCD was 84/100,000 (95% confidence interval: 80-89/100,000), or 0.084%. It varied among the 19 clinics within the HMO but was nowhere higher than 150/100,000. Prevalence was higher among women than among men but was higher among boys than among girls. Above age 65, OCD prevalence decreased markedly in both genders. Period prevalence rates increased by 60% as the length of the study period doubled from 1 to 2 years, more than would be expected for a chronic disease requiring regular care. About three-quarters of both children and adults with OCD had comorbid psychiatric diagnoses; major depression was common in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although previously reported prevalences of 1%-3% from community studies may have included many transient or misclassified cases of OCD not requiring treatment, the very low prevalence of clinically recognized OCD in this population suggests that many individuals suffering from OCD are not receiving the benefits of effective treatment.

Adolescent↗

Cerebral glucose metabolism in obsessive-compulsive hoarding.

OBJECTIVE: Compulsive hoarding and saving symptoms, found in many patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), are part of a discrete clinical syndrome that includes indecisiveness, disorganization, perfectionism, procrastination, and avoidance and has been associated with poor response to medications and cognitive behavior therapy. The authors sought to identify cerebral metabolic patterns specifically associated with the compulsive hoarding syndrome using positron emission tomography (PET). METHOD: [(18)F]Fluorodeoxyglucose PET scans were obtained for 45 adult subjects who met DSM-IV criteria for OCD (12 of whom had compulsive hoarding as their most prominent OCD symptom factor) and 17 normal comparison subjects. All subjects had been free of psychotropic medication for at least 4 weeks. Regional cerebral glucose metabolism was compared between the groups. RESULTS: In relation to the comparison subjects, the patients with compulsive hoarding syndrome had significantly lower glucose metabolism in the posterior cingulate gyrus and cuneus, whereas the nonhoarding OCD patients had significantly higher glucose metabolism in the bilateral thalamus and caudate. In relation to nonhoarding OCD patients, compulsive hoarders had significantly lower metabolism in the dorsal anterior cingulate gyrus. Across all OCD patients, hoarding severity was negatively correlated with glucose metabolism in the dorsal anterior cingulate gyrus. CONCLUSIONS: OCD patients with the compulsive hoarding syndrome had a different pattern of cerebral glucose metabolism than nonhoarding OCD patients and comparison subjects. Obsessive-compulsive hoarding may be a neurobiologically distinct subgroup or variant of OCD whose symptoms and poor response to anti-obsessional treatment are mediated by lower activity in the cingulate cortex.

Adult↗

Attitudes toward neurosurgical procedures for Parkinson's disease and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Similar neurosurgical procedures exist for Parkinson's disease (PD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Because PD is seen as a brain disease and OCD as a disease of the mind, neurologists and psychiatrists may be more aware of and more optimistic toward neurosurgery for PD than for OCD. A questionnaire was sent to randomized American Psychiatric Association and American Academy of Neurology members, and 569 of 1,188 eligible members (47.9%) responded. Some 82.8% of the psychiatrists and 27.4% of the neurologists were aware of neurosurgical procedures for OCD, whereas 84.7% of psychiatrists and 99.4% of neurologists were aware of neurosurgery for PD (P < 0.001). Of psychiatrists, 74.1% would refer appropriate patients for OCD neurosurgery, 67.4% for PD neurosurgery (P = 0.15); of neurologists, 25.6% would refer for OCD, 94.3% for PD (P < 0.001). Specialty affected willingness to refer for OCD neurosurgery. Specialty and degree of contact with neurosurgeons affected willingness to refer for PD neurosurgery. There is poor physician awareness of neurosurgical options for OCD compared with PD, as well as a risk-benefit bias against OCD surgery by the neurologists surveyed.

Adult↗

Obsessions: the impact and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents.

In the development of the majority of children, ritualistic behaviour may be seen as a normal phenomenon. In some children and adolescents, however, these rituals become time-consuming, interfering, irritating and annoying. The most common obsessions in both children and adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are related to a fear of dirt and contamination, fear of some terrible happening, and the fear of harming a loved one. The most common compulsions are washing fixations, checking behaviour and rituals (including mental rituals). Prevalence studies show that OCD in children and adolescents is far more common than previously thought. It is estimated that up to 2% of this population have symptoms fulfilling OCD criteria. The impact of early OCD onset can be profound, with long-term studies indicating that approximately 50% of these patients will also suffer from OCD in early adulthood. These patients tend to remain socially isolated, to have fewer relationships than their non-OCD peers, and have a tendency to remain within the family home during early adulthood. In addition, childhood OCD is associated with comorbid psychiatric disorders, in particular depression, anxiety and panic disorders, Tourette's syndrome and eating disorders. Treatment strategies for childhood OCD reflect those used in adult psychiatry. The most effective psychotherapeutic approach is based on cognitive-behavioural therapy with exposure and prevention. In contrast to pharmacotherapeutic agents without serotonin activity, the serotonin-specific antidepressants appear to be effective and well-tolerated in the treatment of OCD in children.

Adolescent↗

Preferential aggregation of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders in schizophrenia patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To validate a complex association between schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). METHOD: We used the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders to compare the rate of OCD spectrum and additional Axis I disorders in 100 patients who met criteria for both schizophrenia and OCD, non-OCD schizophrenia (n = 100), and OCD (n = 35). RESULTS: There was a robust between-group difference in the number of patients with one or more OCD spectrum disorders (schizo-obsessive n = 30, compared with schizophrenia n = 8; P = 0.001), that is, higher rates of body dysmorphic (8% compared with 0%) and tic (16% compared with 4%) disorders. No difference was revealed in affective, anxiety, and substance use disorders. We found comparable rates of OCD spectrum disorders in the schizo-obsessive and OCD groups (30% and 42.8%, respectively; P = 0.32). CONCLUSION: Preferential aggregation of OCD spectrum disorders in the schizo-obsessive group supports this unique clinical association. Whether a schizo-obsessive interface represents comorbidity or a specific subtype of schizophrenia warrants further investigation.

Adult↗

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of anxiety disorders before and after treatment with citalopram.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have now examined the effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment on brain function in a variety of anxiety disorders including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and social anxiety disorder (social phobia) (SAD). Regional changes in cerebral perfusion following SSRI treatment have been shown for all three disorders. The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) (OCD), caudate (OCD), medial pre-frontal/cingulate (OCD, SAD, PTSD), temporal (OCD, SAD, PTSD) and, thalamic regions (OCD, SAD) are some of those implicated. Some data also suggests that higher perfusion pre-treatment in the anterior cingulate (PTSD), OFC, caudate (OCD) and antero-lateral temporal region (SAD) predicts subsequent treatment response. This paper further examines the notion of overlap in the neurocircuitry of treatment and indeed treatment response across anxiety disorders with SSRI treatment. METHODS: Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using Tc-99 m HMPAO to assess brain perfusion was performed on subjects with OCD, PTSD, and SAD before and after 8 weeks (SAD) and 12 weeks (OCD and PTSD) treatment with the SSRI citalopram. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) was used to compare scans (pre- vs post-medication, and responders vs non-responders) in the combined group of subjects. RESULTS: Citalopram treatment resulted in significant deactivation (p = 0.001) for the entire group in the superior (t = 4.78) and anterior (t = 4.04) cingulate, right thalamus (t = 4.66) and left hippocampus (t = 3.96). Deactivation (p = 0.001) within the left precentral (t = 4.26), right mid-frontal (t = 4.03), right inferior frontal (t = 3.99), left prefrontal (3.81) and right precuneus (t= 3.85) was more marked in treatment responders. No pattern of baseline activation distinguished responders from non-responders to subsequent pharmacotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Although each of the anxiety disorders may be mediated by different neurocircuits, there is some overlap in the functional neuro-anatomy of their response to SSRI treatment. The current data are consistent with previous work demonstrating the importance of limbic circuits in this spectrum of disorders. These play a crucial role in cognitive-affective processing, are innervated by serotonergic neurons, and changes in their activity during serotonergic pharmacotherapy seem crucial.

Adult↗

Obsessive-compulsive disorder and trichotillomania: a phenomenological comparison.

BACKGROUND: Similarities between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and trichotillomania (TTM) have been widely recognized. Nevertheless, there is evidence of important differences between these two disorders. Some authors have conceptualized the disorders as lying on an OCD spectrum of conditions. METHODS: Two hundred and seventy eight OCD patients (n = 278: 148 male; 130 female) and 54 TTM patients (n = 54; 5 male; 49 female) of all ages were interviewed. Female patients were compared on select demographic and clinical variables, including comorbid axis I and II disorders, and temperament/character profiles. RESULTS: OCD patients reported significantly more lifetime disability, but fewer TTM patients reported response to treatment. OCD patients reported higher comorbidity, more harm avoidance and less novelty seeking, more maladaptive beliefs, and more sexual abuse. OCD and TTM symptoms were equally likely to worsen during menstruation, but OCD onset or worsening was more likely associated with pregnancy/puerperium. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support previous work demonstrating significant differences between OCD and TTM. The classification of TTM as an impulse control disorder is also problematic, and TTM may have more in common with conditions characterized by stereotypical self-injurious symptoms, such as skin-picking. Differences between OCD and TTM may reflect differences in underlying psychobiology, and may necessitate contrasting treatment approaches.

Adolescent↗

Clinical impact of obsessive-compulsive disorder comorbidity in bipolar disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorder (BD) is commonly comorbid with other psychiatric conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Despite increasing interest in this comorbidity, quantitative data on its clinical characteristics remain limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the clinical impact of OCD comorbidity in BD by comparing individuals with BD and OCD (BD-OCD) to those with BD without OCD. METHODS: We systematically searched the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases up to April 15, 2024. Meta-analyses were conducted to compare BD-OCD and BD without OCD groups across multiple clinical domains. RESULTS: From 11,959 initial records screened, 26 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis, with 22 eligible for meta-analysis. Individuals with BD-OCD showed higher odds of experiencing chronic mood episodes (OR&#xa0;=&#xa0;9.42; 95%CI&#xa0;=&#xa0;2.23, 39.9), rapid cycling (OR&#xa0;=&#xa0;1.92; 95%CI&#xa0;=&#xa0;1.04, 3.53), comorbid eating disorders (OR&#xa0;=&#xa0;3.37; 95%CI&#xa0;=&#xa0;1.99, 5.7), panic disorder (OR&#xa0;=&#xa0;3.3; 95%CI&#xa0;=&#xa0;2.11, 5.2), substance use disorders (OR&#xa0;=&#xa0;1.39; 95%CI&#xa0;=&#xa0;1.02, 1.89), and lifetime suicide attempts (OR&#xa0;=&#xa0;1.85; 95%CI&#xa0;=&#xa0;1.21, 2.84). Additionally, they presented earlier onset of BD (SMD&#xa0;=&#xa0;-0.27; 95%CI&#xa0;=&#xa0;-0.52, -0.01) and reduced functioning (SMD&#xa0;=&#xa0;-0.42; 95%CI&#xa0;=&#xa0;-0.59, -0.24). Most data were derived from adult populations, limiting the evidence available for children and adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: BD-OCD presents a more severe and complex clinical profile, requiring specialized assessment and integrated treatment approaches. Identifying these features may support earlier recognition and inform personalized interventions for this population.

Humans↗

Twin studies on obsessive-compulsive disorder: a review.

Genetic factors have historically been thought of as important in the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). For the estimation of the relative importance of genetic and environmental factors, twin studies are an obvious approach. Twin studies of OCD have a long history, starting in 1929. In this review, over 70 years of twin research of OCD is presented, using four different approaches that represent the steps in the twin research of OCD from past to present. These steps include (1) case-studies of twins with OCD from the old literature; (2) twin studies of OCD using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria; (3) twin studies of OCD using a dimensional approach, comparing resemblances in monozygotic and dizygotic twins; and (4) twin studies of OCD using a dimensional approach, analyzing the data with Structural Equation Modeling. It is concluded that only the studies using the last method have convincingly shown that, in children, obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms are heritable, with genetic influences in the range of 45% to 65%. In adults, studies are suggestive for a genetic influence on OC symptoms, ranging from 27% to 47%, but a large twin study using a biometrical approach with continuous data is still needed to provide conclusive evidence. Strategies for future twin studies of OCD are discussed.

Adult↗

Clarifying the convergence between obsessive compulsive personality disorder criteria and obsessive compulsive disorder.

In this study we examined the convergence between obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) criteria and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Baseline assessments of 629 participants of the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorders Study were used to examine the associations between OCPD criteria and diagnoses of OCD. Three of the eight OCPD criteria--hoarding, perfectionism, and preoccupation with details--were significantly more frequent in subjects with OCD (n = 89) than in subjects without OCD (n = 540). Logistic regressions were used to predict the probability of each OCPD criterion as a function of Axis I diagnoses (OCD, additional anxiety disorders, and major depressive disorder). Associations between OCD and these three OCPD criteria remained significant in the logistic regressions, showing unique associations with OCD and odds ratios ranging from 2.71 to 2.99. In addition, other anxiety disorders and major depressive disorder showed few associations with specific OCPD criteria. This study suggests variability in the strength of the relationships between specific OCPD criteria and OCD. The findings also support a unique relationship between OCPD symptoms and OCD, compared to other anxiety disorders or major depression. Future efforts to explore the link between Axis I and Axis II disorders may be enriched by conducting analyses at the symptom level.

Adult↗

Clinical subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder based on the presence of checking and washing compulsions.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed at examining the utility of checking and washing compulsions as markers of valid subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). METHODS: One hundred and six patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder were evaluated with a socio-demographic and clinical questionnaire, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, the Clinical Global Impression, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and the Global Assessment of Functioning. These individuals were allocated in one of four subgroups [checkers (OCD-Ch; n = 20), washers (OCD-Wa; n = 13), checkers and washers (OCD-CW; n = 48), and non-checkers and non-washers (OCD non-CW = 25)] on the basis of the presence and the clinical relevance of checking and/or washing compulsive behaviors across their lifetime. Socio-demographic and clinical variables were compared and contrasted between the groups by means of ANOVA followed by post-hoc Least Significant Difference or Dunnett's tests for continuous variables and chi-square tests followed by partitioned chi-square tests for categorical variables. RESULTS: OCD-Ch and OCD-Wa did not differ on most demographic and clinical features, the only exception being the number of different types of obsessions, which were significantly higher in the former group. The OCD-CW group was more likely to exhibit an insidious onset of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, to manifest itself as a mixed subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder and to display obsessions with contamination themes. On the other hand, the OCD non-CW group was more likely to exhibit an acute onset, a shorter duration of illness, obsessions with religious themes, an episodic course, and less severe obsessive-compulsive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: In our sample, the probing of the presence of checking and/or washing compulsions has provided significant empirical support to establish valid subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Adolescent↗

Cartilage-derived biomarkers and lipid mediators of inflammation in horses with osteochondritis dissecans of the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether reported alterations in metabolism of cartilage matrix in young (0 to 24 months old) horses with osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) may also be found in older (24 to 48 months old) horses with clinical signs of OCD and to investigate the role of eicosanoids in initiating these clinical signs. SAMPLE POPULATION: Synovial fluid was collected from 38 tarsocrural joints of 24 warmblood horses with (22 joints of 16 horses) or without (16 joints of 8 horses) clinical signs and a radiographic diagnosis of OCD of the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia. PROCEDURES: Turnover of type II collagen was investigated by use of specific immunoassays for synthesis (carboxypropeptide of type II collagen [CPII]) and degradation (collagenase-cleaved fragments of type II collagen [C2C]) products. Furthermore, glycosaminoglycan (GAG), leukotriene (LT) B(4), cysteinyl LTs, and prostaglandin (PG) E(2) concentrations were determined, and concentrations in joints with OCD were compared with those in joints without OCD. RESULTS: Concentrations of CPII, C2C, and GAG did not differ significantly between affected and nonaffected joints. Fluid from joints with OCD had significantly higher LTB(4) and PGE(2) concentrations than did fluids from nonaffected joints. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Altered collagen or proteoglycan turnover was not detected in 24- to 48-month-old horses at the time they developed clinical signs of OCD of the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia. However, increased concentrations of LTB(4) and PGE(2) in fluid of joints with OCD implicate these mediators in the initiation of clinical signs of OCD.

Animals↗