[Comparison of patients with schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia with accompanying obsessive-compulsive symptoms].

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to determine if schizophrenic patients with OC-symptoms represent a subtype of schizophrenia and to evaluate the differences between schizophrenic patients with OC symptoms and OCD patients.

METHODS

The study included 20 patients diagnosed with OCD, 40 schizophrenic patients, and 20 schizophrenic patients with OC symptoms. While the distribution and the severity of psychotic symptoms in the OC-schizophrenia group were compared to those of the schizophrenic patients, and while the distribution and severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms of the OC-schizophrenia group were compared to OCD patients, all 3 groups were compared to each other in terms of demographic data and other clinical characteristics.

RESULTS

There were no differences in the distribution and severity of psychotic symptoms between the OC-schizophrenia group and the schizophrenia group. Moreover, the distribution and severity of OC symptoms in the OC-schizophrenia group were no different than those in the OCD group. Brief Disability Questionnaire scores were significantly higher in the OC-schizophrenia group than in the other 2 groups. Hamilton Depression Scale and Hamilton Anxiety Scale mean scores were significantly higher in the OCD and OC-schizophrenia groups than in the schizophrenia group. Moreover, Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale total scores were not correlated to the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms or the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms scores in the OC-schizophrenia group.

CONCLUSION

According to our results OC-schizophrenia might be a sub-type of schizophrenia, which doesn't have more severe psychotic symptoms, but more severe depression and anxiety, which are related to greater disability.