[Treatment of child phobias and obsessions by operant conditioning].
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Hypochondriasis (HC) involves preoccupation with fears of having a serious medical illness based on the misinterpretation of benign bodily perturbations. Individuals with HC also perform behaviors such as checking and reassurance-seeking presumably to reduce health-related fears. Experimental behavioral analyses of HC symptoms, however, are lacking. In the present study, 27 patients with HC were exposed to personally relevant health-related stimuli under one of two conditions: (a) subsequently performing safety-seeking behaviors (e.g., checking) (n=14) or (b) subsequently being instructed not to perform such behaviors (n=13). In both groups, subjective anxiety and urges to perform safety behaviors were monitored for 1h. Results indicated that exposure to the personally relevant health trigger provoked anxiety and urges to perform safety behaviors. For patients who performed such behaviors, these feelings were reduced. For patients who did not, a more gradual reduction of anxiety and urges was observed. Findings are discussed in terms of the conceptualization and treatment of HC behavior, and are relevant to HC's possible relationship to panic and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
The current study sought to examine the extent to which empirically supported psychological and pharmacological treatments were used by individuals with panic disorder (n = 41), social phobia (n = 34), or obsessive compulsive disorder (n = 21). Participants were recruited from an anxiety disorders clinic and completed a questionnaire about previous treatment and contact with a variety of professionals. Results indicated that the types of pharmacological treatment received by patients were more often consistent with findings from the empirical literature than were the psychological treatments received by patients. Cognitive and behavioral treatments had been tried by fewer than half of participants (between 19 and 44% of participants). Results were fairly consistent across the anxiety disorders. Possible explanations for the discrepancy between the types of psychological treatments that have received empirical support and those that are typically provided to patients are provided.
Excessive responsibility has been suggested as a central cognitive variable associated with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) (Rachman, 1993, Behaviour Research and Therapy, 31, 149-154; Salkovskis, 1985, Behaviour Research and Therapy, 23, 571-583; Salkovskis, 1989, Behaviour Research and Therapy, 27, 677-682; Salkovskis, 1995, Current controversies in the anxiety disorders). Several studies using questionnaires (e.g. Rhéaume, Freeston, Dugas, Letarte & Ladouceur, 1995, Behaviour Research and Therapy, 33, 785-794) and experimental manipulations (Ladouceur et al., 1995, Behaviour Research and Therapy, 33, 937-946; Lopatka & Rachman, 1995, Behaviour Research and Therapy, 33, 673-684) have shown evidence for such a link between responsibility and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Responsibility has been defined as the belief of possessing a pivotal power to provoke or preventing crucial negative consequences (Salkovskis et al., 1992 cited in Salkovskis, 1995, Current controversies in the anxiety disorders). This definition emphasizes two related cognitive distortions: personal influence and potential negative consequences. The respective roles of each component and their potential interaction need to be clarified. The present study tests the effects of an experimental manipulation of both influence and negative consequences on perceived responsibility and checking behavior during a classification task. Seventy-seven subjects were divided into four experimental conditions: the Combined condition, the Influence condition, the Negative Consequences condition and the Control condition. After the experimental manipulation, subjects from each condition had to classify capsules in semi-transparent bottles. Results showed that personal influence is the best predictor of perceived responsibility. Although increased potential negative consequences were sufficient to trigger hesitations, combined influence and negative consequences were necessary to produce modifications. These results are consistent with the results obtained by the questionnaires (e.g. Rhéaume, Ladouceur, Freeston & Letarte, 1995a, Behaviour Research and Therapy, 33, 159-169) and previous manipulations (e.g. Ladouceur et al., 1995).
Atypical, stereotypic motor and locomotor behavior was observed in 3 dogs. In 1 dog, the behavior included circling, vocalization, and snapping; in another, circling associated with pica and aerophagia; and in a third, gradually intensifying locomotor behavior stimulated by bright light. This behavior interfered with normal interaction between their owners and the dogs, and has been associated with obsessive-compulsive disorders. Treatment with clomipramine, along with other psychotropic medications and behavioral modification, suppressed the inappropriate behavior in all dogs; in 2 of the 3 dogs, the condition worsened when clomipramine treatment was withdrawn. Clomipramine may be helpful in treatment of such behavioral disorders, but one should consider the ability of such drugs to mask or worsen metabolic or neurologic problems, to induce toxicoses when used at inappropriate dosages, and to be abused by human beings.
OBJECTIVE: Three issues relevant to revising the DSM-III-R criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder were examined in a field trial: 1) the requirement that symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder be viewed by the patient as excessive or unreasonable, 2) the presence of mental compulsions in addition to behavioral compulsions, and 3) ICD-10 subcategories. METHOD: The authors studied symptom patterns of obsessive-compulsive disorder as well as strength of obsessive belief among 431 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder at seven hospital outpatient clinics. Two methods of subject selection were used: consecutive entry of everyone who contacted the clinics for evaluation of obsessive-compulsive disorder and entry of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder who had continuing contact with the clinics since before the field trial and who were still symptomatic. Primary measures were the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale and face-valid questions about fixity of obsessive-compulsive beliefs. RESULTS: The large majority of patients were uncertain about whether their obsessive-compulsive symptoms were unreasonable or excessive, and most had both mental and behavioral compulsions. Results on the ICD-10 subcategories were equivocal. CONCLUSIONS: The present results converge with previous findings to indicate a broad range of insight among patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The DSM-III-R requirement for insight should be de-emphasized in DSM-IV, and mental rituals should be included in the definition of compulsions.
The present study was performed in a group of bulimic (BN) females (1) to assess prevalence rates of comorbid obsessive-compulsive phenomena; (2) to investigate whether BN patients display a characteristic cluster of obsessive-compulsive symptoms; and (3) to determine whether obsessive-compulsive symptoms influence the clinical picture of BN. Thirty-eight DSM-IV BN females were interviewed by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID) to assess the prevalence rate of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD); the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Symptom Scale (Y-BOCS) Symptom Check-List was also used to evaluate the presence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The phenomenology of BN females with obsessive-compulsive syndromes (OCS) as detected by the Y-BOCS was compared to that shown by a "control" group of nonbulimic OCD females. Finally, the eating-related psychopathology of BN women with and without OCS was compared. The current prevalence rates of OCD and of subthreshold obsessive-compulsive syndrome (sOCS) in our sample were 10.5% and 15.8%, respectively. Thus, a total of 26.3% of BN females had a current OCS that comprised both clinical disorders and subthreshold syndromes. No differences were detected between obsessive-compulsive symptoms of these females and those of the control group of nonbulimic OCD females. BN females with OCS had higher ratings on the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) total score and on the "drive for thinness" and the "bulimia" items of the scale, as compared to BN females without OCS. In conclusion, it appears that a considerable proportion of BN females display OCS, which sometimes are not severe enough to fulfill diagnostic criteria for OCD. Moreover, in these patients, obsessive-compulsive symptoms are undistinguishable from those of OCD females, and exert a negative influence on the clinical picture of the bulimic disorder.
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a prevalent zoonotic parasite that has been implicated in influencing human psychiatric disorders and risk-taking behaviors. Using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data, we selected 25 and 76 single-nucleotide polymorphisms as instrumental variables for anti-T. gondii IgG seropositivity and anti-T. gondii IgG levels, respectively, and conducted two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses across 18 GWAS datasets to investigate potential causal effects on addiction, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, and risk-taking behavior in European populations. Contrary to previous epidemiological evidence, our MR analyses do not support a significant causal association between T. gondii infection and any of the studied psychiatric disorders or risk-taking behavior. Collectively, these results establish that any true causal effect of genetic liability to T. gondii infection is likely to be small (OR < 1.18 for schizophrenia, < 1.29 for bipolar disorder) and below the effect sizes typically reported in observational seroepidemiological studies, although small or infection-phase-specific effects cannot be excluded.
The effect of fluvoxamine, a selective serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitor, was studied in a model of anxiety and/or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in mice. In the anxiety/OCD model, marble-burying behavior, marble-burying was significantly suppressed by fluvoxamine at 30 and 60 mg/kg, p.o. and the monoamine reuptake inhibitor clomipramine, at 60 mg/kg, p.o. No suppressive effect, however, was observed by the selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor desipramine at doses from 15 to 60 mg/kg, p.o. Suppressive effects were obtained by the serotonergic anxiolytic buspirone at 30 and 60 mg/kg, p.o. and the benzodiazepine anxiolytic diazepam at 10 mg/kg, p.o. The effect of fluvoxamine on marble-burying was slightly attenuated after repeated administration. On the other hand, both the effects of buspirone and diazepam completely disappeared after repeated administration. Effect of fluvoxamine on the marble-burying was unaffected by the 5-HT2 antagonist ritanserin. However, the 5-HT1A antagonist NAN-190 (1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4-[4-(2-phthalimido)butyl] piperazine) inhibited the suppressive effect of fluvoxamine on the marble-burying. From these results, the 5-HT1A-receptor subtype may be involved in the suppressive effect of fluvoxamine on the marble-burying, but the 5-HT2-receptor subtype is not involved in this effect.
To clarify the nature of compulsive behavior in autism, staff reports of behavioral patterns of 17 young autistic adults living in a farmstead residential facility were analyzed. Three staff members, who had worked most closely with each resident for at least 3 months completed three questionnaires, including Quantitative and Qualitative compulsive behavior scales, and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). The questionnaires were completed on two occasions with a 2-week interval between administrations. Test-retest and interrater consistencies were examined for each of the scales. Both the Qualitative and Quantitative questionnaires show promise as instruments that could be used as objective baselines or descriptors for compulsive behavior in autism. Information gathered from these scales could be utilized to determine how to intervene in the behavior, and to assess progress in treatment programs.
UNLABELLED: Relationships between OCD and impulsivity are currently under research. METHOD: In the phase 3 of the national study on OCD, 155 patients suffering from an OCD (DSM III-R criteria, score on NIMH-OC > or = 7) had entered a naturalistic follow-up of 12 months duration. Impulsivity was assessed by using the BDS (Behavioral Dyscontrol Scale, offautoquestionnaire of 24 items) at day 0, 6th and 12th months and a semi-structured interview for Obsessive-Compulsive Related Syndrome and Behaviors Spectrum, as defined by Hollander (DSM III-R criteria). RESULTS: Impulsivity was more intense in females (mean score on BDS 35.6 vs 31.9, p = 0.06), in patients with personal history of anxiety-depression (36.3 vs 32.3, p = 0.04) and suicidal behavior (38.3 vs 33.2, p = 0.06) and familial history of OCD (37.1 vs 33.0, p = 0.07). Moreover, syndromal typology of obsessions or compulsions did not seem to influence impulsivity. In contrast, presence of co-existing OC Related Syndrome was significantly linked to higher impulsivity score, especially with "Intermittent Explosive Syndrome" (mean score = 40.1 vs 30.8, p < 10(-4), "Compulsive Buying" (38.5 vs 32.4, p = 0.005), "Hypochondriasis" (36.7 vs 32.1, p = 0.02), "Dysmorphophobia" (37.1 vs 32.4, p = 0.02) and "Depersonnalization" (37.7 vs 32.9, p = 0.05). Paradoxically, impulsivity was augmented in patients with important to severe slowness syndrome (38.3 vs 31.8, p = 0.001). This mixed association between slowness and impulsivity can be an excellent testimony of "Dyscontrol" phenomenon. In 130 patients who had received an anti-obsessional pharmacologic treatment during 12 months follow-up, impulsivity score was gradually reduced from day 0 (mean score = 34.1) at M6 (24.8-22% reduction) and at M12 (20.1-36% reduction). After one year of follow-up, a decreased by > or = 50% of impulsivity score was observed in 42% of obsessional patients. Finally, the response rate of OCD to pharmacotherapy seemed to be modulated by the dimensions of impulsivity and slowness. In fact, the best results after 6 months of treatment were observed in the sub-groups presenting high level of "impulsivity" (62-66% were responders) versus 39% in the sub-group with important to severe slowness.
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Although many women diet, relatively few develop the extreme weight loss and the clinical symptoms of anorexia nervosa. An underlying biological diathesis and temperament may place someone at risk for developing anorexia nervosa. Certain traits, such as negative affect, behavioral inhibition, compliance, high harm avoidance, and an obsessive concern with symmetry, exactness, and perfectionism, persist after recovery from anorexia nervosa. These persistent symptoms raise the possibility that such traits exist premorbidly and contribute to the pathogenesis of this disorder. Such traits could be associated with increased brain serotonin activity. After recovery, anorexics have increased levels of 5-HIAA, the major metabolite of serotonin, in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Low CSF 5-HIAA levels have been associated with impulsive and aggressive behaviors, which are opposite to those typically found in anorexia nervosa. Increased serotonin activity could contribute to many behavioral symptoms, such as increased satiety. Moreover, recent data suggest that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)-type medication improves outcome and prevents relapse in people with anorexia nervosa. These theoretical issues have important clinical implications in this era of diminished support for treatment of eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa, like other major psychiatric disorders, has contributory pathophysiology and can benefit from and deserves appropriate treatment resources.
The dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) is the most important gene in psychiatric genetics since its involvement in the physiology of behavior, pharmacology response and psychopathology. DRD4's sequence gene present some polymorphism such as in the exon 3 constituted from 2 to 10 copies of repetitive sequences of 48 base pair (bp), from class variable number tandem repeats (VNTR). An additional genetic variant in the exon 1 presents polymorphisms to 12 bp VNTR, and the variation -521 C by T of the promoter region. The -521 T allele can reduce the efficiency of the gene expression in comparison with the C allele. The DRD4 gene codes a protein transmembranal of 7 domains, distributed in front cortex, striatum, hypothalamus and hippocampus. This review discusses the biological significance of DRD4 gene and its perspective with emphasis on the impact of association studies in some illness mental and behavioral traits. The DRD4 polymorphism has been studied in association with illnesses like schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive with tics, bipolar manic-depressive disorder, in addition behavioral traits such as novelty seeking. The DRD4 gene is a genetic marker that could play a role in etiology of different mental illness, and behavioral traits, and its polymorphism can be used in association studies, epigenetic and pharmacogenomic analysis for help to understand the genetics basis of both mental disorders and traits.
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The two most useful treatments in obsessive-compulsive disorder are pharmacotherapy with potent serotonin reuptake-blocking agents and behavioral techniques, such as exposure and response prevention. Based on the authors' cumulative clinical experience, it is suggested that patient education, cognitive therapy, and psychodynamic psychotherapy are helpful adjuncts during various treatment stages of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The patient's strengths and knowledge of the illness can be used by the nurse-therapist to determine the implementation and timing of these therapeutic measures. Specific behavioral and cognitive techniques that may be useful in treating specific symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder are highlighted. Suggestions for future nursing research are outlined.