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Cracknell RO, Tavassoli T, Field DT. High-dose Vitamin-B6 reduces sensory over-responsivity. J Psychopharmacol 2024:2698811241271972. [PMID: 39180365 DOI: 10.1177/02698811241271972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sensory reactivity differences are experienced by between 5% and 15% of the population, often taking the form of sensory over-responsivity (SOR), in which sensory stimuli are experienced as unusually intense and everyday function is affected. A potential mechanism underlying over-responsivity is an imbalance between neural excitation and inhibition in which inhibitory influences are relatively weakened. Therefore, interventions that boost neural inhibition or reduce neural excitation may reduce SOR; Vitamin-B6 is the coenzyme for the conversion of excitatory glutamate to inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and in animal models, it both increases the concentration of GABA and reduces glutamate. AIMS To discover whether taking a high dose of Vitamin-B6 reduces SOR and other aspects of sensory reactivity. METHODS We recruited 300 adults (249 females) from the general population who completed the Sensory Processing 3-Dimensions Scale (SP-3D) first at baseline, and again following randomisation to either 1 month's supplementation with 100 mg Vitamin-B6, or one of two control conditions (1000 µg Vitamin-B12 or placebo). To focus on individuals who experience SOR, we analysed the effects of supplementation only on individuals with high baseline SOR scores (above the 87th percentile). RESULTS In individuals with SOR at baseline, Vitamin-B6 selectively reduced SOR compared to both placebo and Vitamin-B12. We also found that Vitamin-B6 selectively reduced postural disorder in individuals with high scores on this subscale at baseline, but there were no effects on the four remaining SP-3D subscales. CONCLUSIONS Clinical trials and mechanistic studies should now be conducted in autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other groups with SOR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah O Cracknell
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, The University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, UK
| | - Teresa Tavassoli
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, The University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, UK
| | - David T Field
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, The University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, UK
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Collins KA, Recchia N, Eng GK, Harvey JR, Tobe RH, Stern ER. Sensory over-responsivity and orbitofrontal cortex connectivity in obsessive-compulsive disorder. J Affect Disord 2024; 353:48-51. [PMID: 38382815 PMCID: PMC11066885 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.02.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sensory over-responsivity (SOR) in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with illness severity and functional impairment. However, the neural substrates of SOR in OCD have not yet been directly probed. METHODS We examined resting-state global functional connectivity markers of SOR in 119 adults with OCD utilizing the CONN-fMRI Functional Connectivity Toolbox for SPM (v21a). We quantified SOR with the sensory sensitivity and sensory avoiding subscales of the Adult and Adolescent Sensory Profile (AASP). We also measured: OCD severity, with the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R); sensory phenomena with the Sensory Phenomena Scale (SPS); general anxiety, with the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI); and depressive symptomatology, with Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms, Self-Report (QIDS-SR). RESULTS There was a significant positive relationship of SOR with global connectivity in anterior and medial OFC (Brodmanns area 11, k = 154, x = 14, y = 62, z = -18, whole-brain corrected at FWE p < 0.05). LIMITATIONS Future investigations should explore neural responses to sensory stimulation tasks in OCD and compare findings with those obtained in other conditions also characterized by high SOR, such as autism spectrum disorder. CONCLUSIONS This study implicates OFC functional connectivity as a neurobiological mechanism of SOR in OCD and suggests that the substrates of SOR in OCD may be dissociable from both that of other symptoms in OCD, and SOR in other disorders. With replication and extension, the finding may be leveraged to develop and refine treatments for OCD and investigate the pathophysiology of SOR in other conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Collins
- Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, United States of America.
| | - Nicolette Recchia
- Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, United States of America; New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Goi Khia Eng
- Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, United States of America; New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Jeanmarie R Harvey
- Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, United States of America; New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Russell H Tobe
- Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, United States of America; Center for the Developing Brain, Child Mind Institute, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Emily R Stern
- Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, United States of America; New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States of America
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Tal I, Cervin M, Liberman N, Dar R. Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Children Are Related to Sensory Sensitivity and to Seeking Proxies for Internal States. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1463. [PMID: 37891831 PMCID: PMC10605487 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13101463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder are related to atypical sensory processing, particularly sensory over-responsivity, in both children and adults. In adults, obsessive-compulsive symptoms are also associated with the attenuation of access to the internal state and compensatory reliance on proxies for these states, including fixed rules and rituals. We aimed to examine the associations between sensory over-responsivity, the tendency to seek proxies for internal states, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in children. Parents of 404 children between 5 and 10 years of age completed online measures of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, seeking proxies for internal states, sensory over-responsivity, and anxiety. Linear regression, dominance analysis, and network analysis were used to explore the unique associations between these variables. The tendency to seek proxies for internal states was more strongly associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms than with anxiety symptoms and uniquely associated with all major obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions except obsessing. Both the tendency to seek proxies for internal states and sensory over-responsivity were significantly associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms, but the association was significantly stronger for the tendency to seek proxies for internal states. While limited by the sole reliance on the parent-report, the present study shows that the tendency to seek proxies for internal states could help clarify the developmental processes involved in the onset of obsessive-compulsive symptoms during childhood and that sensory sensitivity may be important to consider in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilil Tal
- School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; (I.T.); (N.L.)
| | - Matti Cervin
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden;
| | - Nira Liberman
- School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; (I.T.); (N.L.)
| | - Reuven Dar
- School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; (I.T.); (N.L.)
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Borrelli DF, Cervin M, Ottoni R, Marchesi C, Tonna M. Psychotic Vulnerability and its Associations with Clinical Characteristics in Adolescents with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2023; 51:1535-1548. [PMID: 37256460 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-023-01089-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Compared to peers, children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are at increased risk of developing psychotic disorders. Yet very few studies have examined early indicators of psychosis in pediatric OCD. In the present study, 52 youth with a primary diagnosis of OCD (Mage = 15.66 [SD = 2.33], 59.6% girls) were interviewed using the Schizophrenia Proneness Instrument Child and Adolescent version (SPI-CY), which is a comprehensive clinical interview assessing both Cognitive-Perceptual basic symptoms (COPER) and high-risk criterion Cognitive Disturbances (COGDIS). Associations between COPER/COGDIS symptoms and demographic and clinical characteristics were examined. Findings showed that COPER or COGDIS symptoms were present in 44% of participants, with no significant difference between girls and boys. Psychotic vulnerability was associated with an earlier age of OCD onset, greater OCD severity, poorer insight, and more contamination/cleaning symptoms. Psychotic vulnerability was also strongly associated with worse psychosocial functioning. Findings suggest that early indicators of psychosis are frequent in pediatric OCD and associated with more severe OCD and poorer functioning. Research examining how psychotic vulnerability is associated with short- and long-term outcomes for youth with OCD is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Fausto Borrelli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neuroscience, University of Parma Ospedale Maggiore, Padiglione Braga Viale A. Gramsci 14, Parma, 43126, Italy.
| | - Matti Cervin
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Sofiavägen 2D, SE-22241, Lund, Sweden
| | - Rebecca Ottoni
- Department of Mental Health, Local Health Service, Parma, Italy
| | - Carlo Marchesi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neuroscience, University of Parma Ospedale Maggiore, Padiglione Braga Viale A. Gramsci 14, Parma, 43126, Italy
- Department of Mental Health, Local Health Service, Parma, Italy
| | - Matteo Tonna
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neuroscience, University of Parma Ospedale Maggiore, Padiglione Braga Viale A. Gramsci 14, Parma, 43126, Italy
- Department of Mental Health, Local Health Service, Parma, Italy
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Schwarzlose RF, Tillman R, Hoyniak CP, Luby JL, Barch DM. Sensory Over-responsivity: A Feature of Childhood Psychiatric Illness Associated With Altered Functional Connectivity of Sensory Networks. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 93:92-101. [PMID: 36357217 PMCID: PMC10308431 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sensory over-responsivity (SOR) is recognized as a common feature of autism spectrum disorder. However, SOR is also common among typically developing children, in whom it is associated with elevated levels of psychiatric symptoms. The clinical significance and neurocognitive bases of SOR in these children remain poorly understood and actively debated. METHODS This study used linear mixed-effects models to identify psychiatric symptoms and network-level functional connectivity (FC) differences associated with parent-reported SOR in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, a large community sample (9 to 12 years of age) (N = 11,210). RESULTS Children with SOR constituted 18% of the overall sample but comprised more than half of the children with internalizing or externalizing scores in the clinical range. Controlling for autistic traits, both mild and severe SOR were associated with greater concurrent symptoms of depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Controlling for psychiatric symptoms and autistic traits, SOR predicted increased anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and prodromal psychosis symptoms 1 year later and was associated with FC differences in brain networks supporting sensory and salience processing in datasets collected 2 years apart. Differences included reduced FC within and between sensorimotor networks, enhanced sensorimotor-salience FC, and altered FC between sensory networks and bilateral hippocampi. CONCLUSIONS SOR is a common, clinically relevant feature of childhood psychiatric illness that provides unique predictive information about risk. It is associated with differences in brain networks that subserve tactile processing, implicating a neural basis for sensory differences in affected children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca F Schwarzlose
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
| | - Rebecca Tillman
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Caroline P Hoyniak
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Joan L Luby
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Deanna M Barch
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
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Sensory Processing Difficulties in Children and Adolescents with Obsessive-Compulsive and Anxiety Disorders. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2023; 51:223-232. [PMID: 36149521 PMCID: PMC9867656 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-022-00962-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Altered sensory processing has been linked to symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorders (ADs) in youth, but few studies have examined sensory processing in clinical samples and no study has analyzed self-report data from youth meeting diagnostic criteria for OCD or ADs. This study included 86 youth with OCD, 82 youth with ADs, and 46 youth without psychiatric disorders. Participants completed the adolescent version of the Sensory Profile and scales measuring three symptom dimensions of OCD, four symptom dimensions of anxiety, and symptoms of major depression. Results showed that different forms of sensory processing difficulties (sensitivity, avoidance, low registration) were adequately captured by one broad sensory processing factor. Youth with OCD and ADs reported statistically significantly more sensory difficulties than youth without psychiatric disorders, but the two clinical groups did not differ from each other. Altered sensory processing in the clinical groups was not explained by the presence of neurodevelopmental disorders. Sensory difficulties were moderately to strongly related to all self-reported symptom dimensions, and uniquely related to the OCD dimension of symmetry/ordering and the anxiety dimensions of panic and social anxiety. Most youth in the clinical groups were classified as having difficulties with sensory processing. The present study shows that sensory processing difficulties are common in youth with OCD and ADs, not explained by co-occurring neurodevelopmental disorders, and linked to a host of internalizing symptoms. More research is needed to identify whether sensory processing difficulties precede, follow, or mutually reinforce the development of OCD and ADs in youth.
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Interventions for Sensory Over-Responsivity in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Narrative Review. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:children9101584. [PMID: 36291519 PMCID: PMC9601143 DOI: 10.3390/children9101584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit sensory over-responsivity (SOR), which is characterized by an overwhelmingly negative reaction to or avoidance of sensory stimulation. Despite the detrimental effects of SOR on people’s personal and social lives, the knowledge of and interventions for the issue remain limited. This paper collates and reviews studies on SOR and information on the potential for effective interventions for people with ASD. This review reveals evidence that SOR has a close relationship with anxiety, depression, insomnia, and family life impairment and an underlying mechanism related to SOR. Four interventions and their theoretical bases in sensory-motor processing are discussed in this paper, namely, physical activity (PA), sensory integration therapy (SIT), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). These interventions focus on establishing coping strategies for regulating the emotional response to sensory information, and they have been found to be effective and to have the potential to help children with ASD reduce their SOR behaviors. This paper provides guidance for selecting appropriate interventions and for further investigation of more effective interventions in the future.
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Podoly TY, Derby DS, Ben-Sasson A. Sensory over-responsivity and obsessive-compulsive disorder: Measuring habituation and sensitivity through self-report, physiological and behavioral indices. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 149:266-273. [PMID: 35305380 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.02.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may report Sensory Over Responsivity (SOR), but evidence for specific shared mechanism is limited. This study investigated a habituation-sensitivity mechanism in individuals with OCD (n = 30). Sensory habituation and sensitivity were compared with a neurotypical sample, divided to high (n = 30) and low (n = 30) obsessive-compulsive symptoms (HOCS and LOCS). Participants completed self-report sensory questionnaires and a physiological protocol measuring Electro Dermal Activity (EDA) while presenting aversive and neutral sounds in two conditions: Aversive stimuli followed by neutral stimuli (AVfirst), or neutral stimuli followed by aversive stimuli (NEfirst). In addition, participants could shorten the stimulus duration by pressing a key. LOCS differed from HOCS and OCD in most sensory self-report scores, with no significant difference between OCD and HOCS. HOCS had no significant differences in habituation patterns across conditions, while OCD had no differences in habituation patterns in AVfirst (p = .08) but significantly slower habituation patterns to the NEfirst neutral stimuli (p < .001). Condition order determined sensitivity for LOCS (AVfirst p = .017; NEfirst p = .045) but not for OCD and HOCS. HOCS and OCD shortened aversive stimuli by key pressing more than LOCS, with no significant difference between OCD and HOCS. The habituation process of individuals with OCD and HOCS was more influenced by stimulus type than by condition order, which might be due to a cognitive bias of prediction. Individuals with elevated OCS have difficulty relying upon sensory input to respond adaptively to the environment. This process can explain the avoidant behavior and complains of individuals with OCD not being able to ignore and to habituate to the sensory environment. These evidence warrants design of psychoeducation and intervention methods for relying on prior sensory information to improve functioning in individuals with OCD and SOR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Y Podoly
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Social Welfare & Health Sciences University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel; Cognetica: the Israeli Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
| | - Danny S Derby
- Cognetica: the Israeli Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Ayelet Ben-Sasson
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Social Welfare & Health Sciences University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel
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Moreno-Amador B, Cervin M, Martínez-González AE, Piqueras JA. Sensory over-responsivity and symptoms across the obsessive-compulsive spectrum: a web-based study (Preprint). J Med Internet Res 2022; 25:e37847. [PMID: 37052983 PMCID: PMC10141273 DOI: 10.2196/37847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sensory overresponsivity (SOR) has emerged as a potential endophenotype in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but few studies have examined SOR in relation to the major symptom dimensions of OCD and to symptoms across the full obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptom spectrum. OBJECTIVE This study had 2 main objectives. First, we examined the psychometric properties of the SOR Scales in a community-based sample of Spanish adolescents and adults. Second, we identified how SOR difficulties are related to symptoms across the full OC spectrum (eg, OC, body dysmorphic, hoarding, skin-picking, and hair-pulling symptoms), including the heterogeneity of OC symptoms. METHODS We translated the SOR Scales into Spanish-a measure that assesses SOR across the 5 sensory modalities-and created a web-based version of the measure. A sample of 1454 adolescents and adults (mean age 23.84, SD 8.46 years) participated in the study, and 388 (26.69%) participants completed the survey twice (approximately 8 months apart). The survey also contained a web-based measure that assesses symptoms across the full OC spectrum: harm and checking, taboo obsessions, contamination or cleaning, symmetry and ordering, body dysmorphic, hoarding, hair-pulling, and skin-picking symptoms. RESULTS The psychometric properties of the SOR Scales were excellent, and the test-retest reliability was adequate. All types of SOR were related to all major symptom dimensions of OCD and to all OC spectrum symptoms. CONCLUSIONS SOR across the sensory modalities can be validly assessed using a web-based measure. SOR emerged as a pure transdiagnostic phenomenon in relation to symptoms across the OC spectrum, with no specific sensory modality being more strongly related to OC symptoms. SOR can shed much needed light on basic mechanisms that are important for the onset and maintenance of OC spectrum symptoms, and this study shows that large-scale web-based studies can aid in this endeavor. Future studies should examine whether SOR precedes or emerges alongside OC symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Moreno-Amador
- Area of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, Department of Health Psychology, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Elche, Spain
| | - Matti Cervin
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Jose A Piqueras
- Area of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, Department of Health Psychology, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Elche, Spain
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Isaacs D, Key AP, Cascio CJ, Conley AC, Riordan H, Walker HC, Wallace MT, Claassen DO. Cross-disorder comparison of sensory over-responsivity in chronic tic disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Compr Psychiatry 2022; 113:152291. [PMID: 34952304 PMCID: PMC8792289 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2021.152291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sensory over-responsivity (SOR) refers to excessively intense and/or prolonged behavioral responses to environmental stimuli typically perceived as non-aversive. SOR is prevalent in several neurodevelopmental disorders, including chronic tic disorders (CTDs) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Few studies have examined the extent and clinical correlates of SOR across disorders, limiting insights into the phenomenon's transdiagnostic clinical and biological relevance. Such cross-disorder comparisons are of particular interest for CTDs and OCD given their frequent co-occurrence. OBJECTIVE We sought to compare the magnitude of SOR between adults with CTD and adults with OCD and to identify the clinical factors most strongly associated with SOR across these disorders. METHODS We enrolled 207 age- and sex-matched participants across four diagnostic categories: CTD without OCD (designated "CTD/OCD-"; n = 37), CTD with OCD ("CTD/OCD+"; n = 32), OCD without tic disorder ("OCD"; n = 69), and healthy controls (n = 69). Participants completed a self-report battery of rating scales assessing SOR (Sensory Gating Inventory, SGI), obsessive-compulsive symptoms (Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, DOCS), inattention and hyperactivity (Adult ADHD Self-Report Screening Scale for DSM-5, ASRS-5), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9). CTD participants were also administered the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS). To examine between-group differences in SOR, we compared SGI score across all groups and between pairs of groups. To examine the relationship of SOR with other clinical factors, we performed multivariable linear regression. RESULTS CTD/OCD-, CTD/OCD+, and OCD participants were 86.7%, 87.6%, and 89.5%, respectively, more likely to have higher SGI total scores than healthy controls. SGI total score did not differ between CTD/OCD-, CTD/OCD+, and OCD groups. In the regression model of log-transformed SGI total score, OCD diagnosis, DOCS score, and ASRS-5 score each contributed significantly to model goodness-of-fit, whereas CTD diagnosis and YGTSS total tic score did not. CONCLUSION SOR is prevalent in adults with CTD and in adults with OCD but does not significantly differ in magnitude between these disorders. Across CTD, OCD, and healthy control adult populations, SOR is independently associated with both obsessive-compulsive and ADHD symptoms, suggesting a transdiagnostic relationship between these sensory and psychiatric manifestations. Future cross-disorder, longitudinal, and translational research is needed to clarify the role and prognostic import of SOR in CTDs, OCD, and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Isaacs
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States.
| | - Alexandra P Key
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States; Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States.
| | - Carissa J Cascio
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States.
| | - Alexander C Conley
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States.
| | - Heather Riordan
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States.
| | - Harrison C Walker
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.
| | - Mark T Wallace
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States; Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States.
| | - Daniel O Claassen
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States.
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Lewin AB, Dickinson S, Kudryk K, Karlovich AR, Harmon SL, Phillips DA, Tonarely NA, Gruen R, Small B, Ehrenreich-May J. Transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy for misophonia in youth: Methods for a clinical trial and four pilot cases. J Affect Disord 2021; 291:400-408. [PMID: 34001373 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Misophonia is a condition marked by dysregulated emotions and behaviors in response to trigger sounds, often chewing, breathing, or coughing. Evidence suggests that misophonia develops in adolescence and the emotions and behaviors are a conditioned response to distress, resulting in social avoidance, stress, and family conflict. In addition, co-occurrence with other psychiatric illnesses such as anxiety, OCD, and Tourette syndrome is common. A transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapeutic (CBT) approach appears appropriate. There are currently no controlled studies of youth with misophonia. The current paper describes the approach to a pilot randomized, blinded family-based treatment study for youth ages 8-16 years. Preliminary results from a pilot open trial also are described. METHODS A 2-phase dual site telehealth treatment study using a transdiagnostic CBT approach, the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents (UP-C/A; Ehrenreich-May et al., 2018), is proposed. Phase 1 consisted of a 4-case pilot of UP-C/A. Phase 2 includes a randomized trial comparing the UP-C/A to a standard relaxation and education protocol. RESULTS Preliminary results from the pilot show modest improvements in evaluator-rated misophonia symptoms on the Clinical Global Impression Severity and Improvement scales. LIMITATIONS There is little research to inform evidence-based practice for youth with misophonia. Study limitations include lack of standardized misophonia assessment instruments and an absence of formal diagnostic criteria. CONCLUSIONS The current paper describes proposed methods for the first randomized controlled trial for youth with misophonia and their families along with results from a 4-case pilot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam B Lewin
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, United States.
| | - Sarah Dickinson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, United States
| | - Kelly Kudryk
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, United States
| | | | | | | | - Niza A Tonarely
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, United States
| | - Rinatte Gruen
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, United States
| | - Brent Small
- School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, United States
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Geller DA, Homayoun S, Johnson G. Developmental Considerations in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Comparing Pediatric and Adult-Onset Cases. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:678538. [PMID: 34248714 PMCID: PMC8269156 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.678538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
There appear to be two peaks of incidence of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), one with a pre-adolescent onset and another in early adulthood. As new cases are added, the cumulative prevalence of OCD increases, but the great majority of cases have an onset in youth. The notion that early onset OCD represents a unique developmental subtype of the disorder has been considered by many researchers based on several specific age-related factors. Ascertainment and early intervention in affected youth is critical to abbreviate the functional impairments associated with untreated illness. In this paper we review the clinical, familial and translational biomarker correlates seen in early onset OCD that support the notion of a developmental subtype and discuss implications for research and treatment aimed at this cohort. The importance of cognitive, academic and social development tasks of childhood and adolescence, illness-specific and familial factors, and immune-mediated inflammatory factors are discussed, with their implications for management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A. Geller
- Pediatric OCD and Tic Disorder Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Saffron Homayoun
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Psychiatry and Neuroimmunology Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Gabrielle Johnson
- Pediatric OCD and Tic Disorder Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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Piacentini J, Wu M, Rozenman M, Bennett S, McGuire J, Nadeau J, Lewin A, Sookman D, Lindsey Bergman R, Storch E, Peris T. Knowledge and competency standards for specialized cognitive behavior therapy for pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psychiatry Res 2021; 299:113854. [PMID: 33765492 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Although exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and pharmacotherapy have demonstrated efficacy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the lack of clinicians effectively trained in these treatments significantly limit effective intervention options for affected youth. This is very unfortunate since child onset is reported by 50% of adults with OCD. To ameliorate this serious global issue the 14 nation International Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders Accreditation Task Force (ATF) of The Canadian Institute for Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (CIOCD) has developed knowledge and competency standards recommended for specialized treatments for OCD through the lifespan. Currently available guidelines are considered by experts to be essential but insufficient because there are not enough clinicians with requisite knowledge and competencies to effectively treat OCD. This manuscript presents knowledge and competency standards recommended for specialized cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for pediatric OCD, derived from comprehensive literature review and expert synthesis. In addition to standards covering the elements of individual CBT-based assessment and treatment, family and school interventions are addressed given the critical role these domains play in the psychosocial development of youths. The ATF standards presented in these phase two papers will be foundational to the upcoming development of certification (individuals) and accreditation (sites) for specialized treatments in OCD through the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Piacentini
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, CA USA.
| | - Monica Wu
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, CA USA.
| | | | - Shannon Bennett
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, NY, NY USA
| | - Joseph McGuire
- Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Josh Nadeau
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, and Rogers Memorial Hospital, Oconomowoc, WI, USA
| | - Adam Lewin
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences and Pediatrics, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Debbie Sookman
- Department of Psychology, McGill University Health Center, and Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, CANADA
| | | | - Eric Storch
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| | - Tara Peris
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, CA USA
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Podoly TY, Ben-Sasson A. Sensory Habituation as a Shared Mechanism for Sensory Over-Responsivity and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms. Front Integr Neurosci 2020; 14:17. [PMID: 32317944 PMCID: PMC7146075 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2020.00017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Some individuals who suffer from obsessive-compulsive (OC) disorder (OCD), report disturbing sensory preoccupations. The inability to stop obsessing over stimuli resonates with a difficulty in sensory habituation. Impaired sensory habituation, to a degree that clearly dysregulates response to sensory stimuli, and impairs participation in everyday activities, can be part of a disorder known as sensory over-responsivity (SOR). Although previous studies indicated a correlation between OCD and SOR, physiological experiments show that individuals with OCD are not more sensitive to sensory stimuli than controls. In the current study, we (1) validated a sensory habituation psycho-physiological protocol and (2) tested whether a "slow to habituate" mechanism can explain the occurrence of elevated SOR and OC symptoms. Methods We designed a protocol to test auditory sensory habituation through electrodermal activity (EDA) recording. The protocol included two randomly ordered aversive and neutral sound conditions; each set of six everyday life sounds was presented as a continuous stimulus. During the presentation of sounds, EDA was measured and participants could press a button to shorten the stimuli. Participants also completed sensory and OC symptom questionnaires. Participants included 100 typically developing adults that were divided into high versus low OC symptom groups. Mixed models analysis was used throughout to meet the need for capturing the temporal nature of habituation. Results Distinct physiological indices were computed to measure sensitivity versus habituation. Habituation was slower in the aversive versus neutral condition. Sensitivity was higher for the aversive stimuli. Self-report of sensory habituation and sensitivity partially correlated with the physiological habituation indices. A comparison of the physiological pattern between those with high versus low OC symptoms revealed significant differences in the habituation and sensitivity indices, across conditions. Conclusion The interplay between SOR and OC symptoms can be explained by a "slow to habituate" mechanism. Identifying behavioral and physiological markers of sensory problems in OCD is important for assessment, intervention and the discovery of underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Y. Podoly
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Cognetica: The Israeli Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ayelet Ben-Sasson
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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Yochman A, Pat-Horenczyk R. Sensory Modulation in Children Exposed to Continuous Traumatic Stress. JOURNAL OF CHILD & ADOLESCENT TRAUMA 2020; 13:93-102. [PMID: 32318232 PMCID: PMC7163836 DOI: 10.1007/s40653-019-00254-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Preliminary evidence supports a possible association between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sensory modulation disorder (SMD). Nevertheless, the research focusing on this relationship in children is notably limited. This study examined children with and without PTS symptoms, by comparing their mothers' perceptions of their responses to sensory events in daily life. Mothers of 134 non-referred children aged 5-11, exposed to continuous traumatic stress due to political violence, completed the UCLA-RI and the Short Sensory Profile questionnaires. Significant differences emerged between children with different levels of PTS symptoms in various sensory modalities. Furthermore, half of the symptomatic children had suspected clinically significant deficits in sensory processing. In addition, PTSD symptoms were significantly associated with most of the sensory processing scores. Logistic regression indicated that the overall sensory processing score was a significant predictor of group classification. The results indicate that children with PTS symptoms may be at increased risk for sensory processing deficits. Evaluation of sensory processing should be incorporated into the routine evaluation of this population in order to determine whether this is an additional factor contributing to a child's difficulties in participating in daily activities. Subsequent intervention programs should then address the multiple needs of these children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aviva Yochman
- School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine of Hadassah and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem , 24026, Mount Scopus, 91240 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ruth Pat-Horenczyk
- Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
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Ben-Sasson A, Gal E, Fluss R, Katz-Zetler N, Cermak SA. Update of a Meta-analysis of Sensory Symptoms in ASD: A New Decade of Research. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 49:4974-4996. [PMID: 31501953 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04180-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
This meta-analysis updated evidence regarding sensory over-responsivity (SOR), under-responsivity (SUR) and seeking symptoms in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) relative to typical controls and those with other conditions. Fifty-five questionnaire studies included 4606 individuals with ASD. Moderators tested were age, IQ, male ratio, matching group, and self-report. Compared to typical controls, effect size was large and significant for SOR, SUR, and Seeking but heterogeneous. For Seeking, age, IQ and self-report were significant moderators. Compared with developmental disorders (DDs) groups, effect size was significantly positive for SOR and Seeking; whereas compared with other clinical groups, only SOR was significant. These findings highlight the core nature of sensory symptoms in ASD and particularly SOR. Explanatory factors are yet to be revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayelet Ben-Sasson
- Occupational Therapy Department, University of Haifa, Abba Khoushy Ave 199, 3498838, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Eynat Gal
- Occupational Therapy Department, University of Haifa, Abba Khoushy Ave 199, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ronen Fluss
- Biostatistics and Biomathematics Department, The Gertner Institute, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, 52621, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Neta Katz-Zetler
- Occupational Therapy Department, University of Haifa, Abba Khoushy Ave 199, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
| | - Sharon A Cermak
- Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of South California, 1540 Alcazar St., CHP 133, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-900, USA
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Review: Exteroceptive Sensory Abnormalities in Childhood and Adolescent Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Critical Review. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2020; 59:78-87. [PMID: 31265873 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2019.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Childhood anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are defined by fear, worry, and uncertainty, but there is also evidence that affected children possess exteroceptive sensory abnormalities. These sensory features may often instigate symptoms and cause significant distress and functional impairment. In addition, a purported class of conditions known as "sensory processing disorders" may significantly overlap with childhood anxiety and OCD, which provides further support for a connection between abnormal sensation and fear-based psychopathology. METHOD The current review was conducted to synthesize and to critically evaluate the existing research on exteroceptive sensory abnormalities in childhood anxiety and OCD. Because of the paucity of research in this area, studies with adult populations were also briefly reviewed. RESULTS The review found significant support for the notion that sensory abnormalities are common in children with anxiety disorders and OCD, but there are significant limitations to research in this area that prevent firm conclusions. CONCLUSION Potential avenues for future research on sensory features of pediatric anxiety and OCD are discussed.
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Van Hulle CA, Esbensen K, Goldsmith HH. Co-occurrence of Sensory Overresponsivity with Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Childhood and Early Adolescence. J Dev Behav Pediatr 2019; 40:377-382. [PMID: 31107361 PMCID: PMC6579637 DOI: 10.1097/dbp.0000000000000671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Sensory overresponsivity (SOR) is characterized by challenges in integrating and responding to everyday sensory experiences. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive thoughts, ritualistic behaviors, and sensory phenomena. There is some evidence that individuals with co-occurring symptoms of SOR and OCD experience more severe anxiety than those with symptoms of OCD alone, but most studies employed small numbers of participants (typically with an OCD diagnosis) assessed at a single time point. Our 2-fold objective was to replicate previous research showing an association between OCD symptoms and SOR symptoms concurrently and to extend these analyses longitudinally in a large, birth-register-based sample. METHOD Twins (N = 1613) and their primary caregivers participated in a multimodal, multimethod, longitudinal study. Primary caregivers completed the SOR inventory for their offspring at the age of 8 years, and twins completed the adult sensory profile at the age of 13 years. Parents completed the OCD module of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-IV when twins were 8 years; twins completed the same module at 13 years. Linear regression models tested for the concurrent and longitudinal associations between SOR and OCD controlling for socioeconomic status. RESULTS Concurrently, participants' likelihood of exhibiting OCD symptoms increased with each symptom of tactile or auditory overresponsivity at 8 years and 13 years (odds ratio = 1.1-2.7). However, SOR measured at age 8 years was unrelated to adolescent OCD symptoms at 13 years and vice versa. CONCLUSION SOR symptoms, although significantly related to concurrent OCD symptoms, do not appear to precede OCD symptoms, suggesting that SOR symptoms may reflect another type of OCD sensory phenomenon rather than a comorbid condition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karyn Esbensen
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - H Hill Goldsmith
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
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21
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Khosravani V, Ganji Z, Sharifi Bastan F, Samimi Ardestani SM, Amirinezhad A. Psychometric properties of the highly sensitive person scale and its relation to symptom dimensions in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-019-00212-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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22
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Porth R, Geller D. Atypical symptom presentations in children and adolescents with obsessive compulsive disorder. Compr Psychiatry 2018; 86:25-30. [PMID: 30048852 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Common symptom presentations in youth with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are easily recognized and are included in the Children's Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS) symptom checklist. However, some youth may occasionally present with atypical or unusual symptoms that are less readily recognized as OCD and may be confused with other disorders that sometimes overlap, such as autism spectrum disorder or even psychosis. METHODS Case synopses which are thematically linked and exemplify and illustrate two distinct types of unusual or atypical symptom presentations are described. These symptoms are embedded in the subjects' broader clinical picture, that more correctly identifies the atypical symptoms as a variant feature of OCD rather than some other diagnostic condition. RESULTS We describe twenty-four children with OCD. Twelve children had obsessions related to adverse experiences of places, times or other people that were felt as horrific, abhorrent or disgusting. These obsessions led to contamination fears of any thoughts or actions associated with those places, events or people. In those whose OCD was a reaction to another person, the contamination obsession often took the form of fear of acquiring an unwanted trait or characteristic by association, which was then avoided. Twelve other youth had obsessions driven by a primary sensory experience that was intolerable, including tactile, olfactory, and auditory stimuli. These sensory experiences were sometimes linked to specific objects or people, driving time-consuming repetitive behaviors to avoid or alleviate the sensory discomfort. CONCLUSION Recognition of atypical presentations of OCD, such as fear of contamination by association with adverse experiences and primary sensory intolerance leading to OCD will help clinicians to better identify and treat these unique symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Porth
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Suite 2000, Boston, MA 02114, United States of America.
| | - Daniel Geller
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Suite 2000, Boston, MA 02114, United States of America; Harvard Medical School, United States of America; Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Paediatrics, Australia.
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Houghton DC, Alexander JR, Bauer CC, Woods DW. Abnormal perceptual sensitivity in body-focused repetitive behaviors. Compr Psychiatry 2018; 82:45-52. [PMID: 29407358 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Several compulsive grooming habits such as hair pulling, skin picking, and nail biting are collectively known as body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). Although subclinical BFRBs are common and benign, more severe and damaging manifestations exist that are difficult to manage. Researchers have suggested that BFRBs are maintained by various cognitive, affective, and sensory contingencies. Although the involvement of cognitive and affective processes in BFRBs has been studied, there is a paucity of research on sensory processes. METHODS The current study tested whether adults with subclinical or clinical BFRBs would report abnormal patterns of sensory processing as compared to a healthy control sample. RESULTS Adults with clinical BFRBs (n = 26) reported increased sensory sensitivity as compared to persons with subclinical BFRBs (n = 48) and healthy individuals (n = 33). Elevations in sensation avoidance differentiated persons with clinical versus subclinical BFRBs. Sensation seeking patterns were not different between groups. Unexpectedly, BFRB severity was associated with lower registration of sensory stimuli, but this finding may be due to high psychiatric comorbidity rates in the BFRB groups. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that several sensory abnormalities may underlie BFRBs. Implications for the etiology and treatment of BFRBs are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Houghton
- Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, 4235 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4235, United States.
| | - Jennifer R Alexander
- Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, 4235 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4235, United States; Department of Psychology, Marquette University, P.O. Box 1881, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0327, United States.
| | - Christopher C Bauer
- Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, 4235 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4235, United States; Department of Psychology, Marquette University, P.O. Box 1881, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0327, United States.
| | - Douglas W Woods
- Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, 4235 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4235, United States; Department of Psychology, Marquette University, P.O. Box 1881, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0327, United States.
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Hartshorne TS, Stratton KK, Brown D, Madhavan-Brown S, Schmittel MC. Behavior in CHARGE syndrome. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART C-SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2017; 175:431-438. [PMID: 29082623 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.31588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Unusual behavior is often associated with genetic syndromes, and may constitute a behavioral phenotype. In contrast to providing a psychiatric diagnosis, a behavioral phenotype describes what is unique to the behavior associated with different syndromes. While behaviors in CHARGE are as complex and variable as other aspects of the syndrome, there are some commonalities that raise the question of common sources for these behaviors. This article addresses how pain, sensory issues, and anxiety may impact the behavior of individuals with CHARGE syndrome, and how the development of self-regulation skills might help to mitigate some of the behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - David Brown
- California Deafblind Services, San Francisco, California
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Ben-Sasson A, Dickstein N, Lazarovich L, Ayalon N. Not Just Right Experiences: Association with Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms and Sensory Over-Responsivity. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/0164212x.2017.1303418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Noam Dickstein
- Occupational Therapy Department, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Liraz Lazarovich
- Occupational Therapy Department, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Noga Ayalon
- Occupational Therapy Department, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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Dayan A, Berger A, Anholt GE. Enhanced action tendencies in obsessive-compulsive disorder: An ERP study. Behav Res Ther 2017; 93:13-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2017.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Revised: 02/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Misophonia: A new mental disorder? Med Hypotheses 2017; 103:109-117. [PMID: 28571795 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2017.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Revised: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Misophonia, a phenomenon first described in the audiology literature, is characterized by intense emotional reactions (e.g., anger, rage, anxiety, disgust) in response to highly specific sounds, particularly sounds of human origin such as oral or nasal noises made by other people (e.g., chewing, sniffing, slurping, lip smacking). Misophonia is not listed in any of the contemporary psychiatric classification systems. Some investigators have argued that misophonia should be regarded as a new mental disorder, falling within the spectrum of obsessive-compulsive related disorders. Other researchers have disputed this claim. The purpose of this article is to critically examine the proposition that misophonia should be classified as a new mental disorder. The clinical and research literature on misophonia was examined and considered in the context of the broader literature on what constitutes a mental disorder. There have been growing concerns that diagnostic systems such as DSM-5 tend to over-pathologize ordinary quirks and eccentricities. Accordingly, solid evidence is required for proposing a new psychiatric disorder. The available evidence suggests that (a) misophonia meets many of the general criteria for a mental disorder and has some evidence of clinical utility as a diagnostic construct, but (b) the nature and boundaries of the syndrome are unclear; for example, in some cases misophonia might be simply one feature of a broader pattern of sensory intolerance, and (c) considerably more research is required, particularly work concerning diagnostic validity, before misophonia, defined as either as a disorder or as a key feature of some broader syndrome of sensory intolerance, should be considered as a diagnostic construct in the psychiatric nomenclature. A research roadmap is proposed for the systematic evaluation as to whether misophonia should be considered for future editions of DSM or ICD.
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Ben-Sasson A, Podoly TY. Sensory over responsivity and obsessive compulsive symptoms: A cluster analysis. Compr Psychiatry 2017; 73:151-159. [PMID: 27978503 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2016.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/29/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several studies have examined the sensory component in Obsesseive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and described an OCD subtype which has a unique profile, and that Sensory Phenomena (SP) is a significant component of this subtype. SP has some commonalities with Sensory Over Responsivity (SOR) and might be in part a characteristic of this subtype. Although there are some studies that have examined SOR and its relation to Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms (OCS), literature lacks sufficient data on this interplay. OBJECTIVES First to further examine the correlations between OCS and SOR, and to explore the correlations between SOR modalities (i.e. smell, touch, etc.) and OCS subscales (i.e. washing, ordering, etc.). Second, to investigate the cluster analysis of SOR and OCS dimensions in adults, that is, to classify the sample using the sensory scores to find whether a sensory OCD subtype can be specified. Our third goal was to explore the psychometric features of a new sensory questionnaire: the Sensory Perception Quotient (SPQ). METHOD A sample of non clinical adults (n=350) was recruited via e-mail, social media and social networks. Participants completed questionnaires for measuring SOR, OCS, and anxiety. RESULTS SOR and OCI-F scores were moderately significantly correlated (n=274), significant correlations between all SOR modalities and OCS subscales were found with no specific higher correlation between one modality to one OCS subscale. Cluster analysis revealed four distinct clusters: (1) No OC and SOR symptoms (NONE; n=100), (2) High OC and SOR symptoms (BOTH; n=28), (3) Moderate OC symptoms (OCS; n=63), (4) Moderate SOR symptoms (SOR; n=83). The BOTH cluster had significantly higher anxiety levels than the other clusters, and shared OC subscales scores with the OCS cluster. The BOTH cluster also reported higher SOR scores across tactile, vision, taste and olfactory modalities. The SPQ was found reliable and suitable to detect SOR, the sample SPQ scores was normally distributed (n=350). CONCLUSIONS SOR is a dimensional feature that can influence the severity of OCS and may characterize a unique sensory OCD subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayelet Ben-Sasson
- Dept. of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Social Welfare & Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa, 31905, Israel.
| | - Tamar Yonit Podoly
- Dept. of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Social Welfare & Health Sciences, University of Haifa.
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Sica C, Bottesi G, Caudek C, Orsucci A, Ghisi M. "Not Just Right Experiences" as a psychological endophenotype for obsessive-compulsive disorder: Evidence from an Italian family study. Psychiatry Res 2016; 245:27-35. [PMID: 27526314 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2015] [Revised: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The heart of the obsessional process may be considered the subject's underlying impression that "something is wrong" or "that something is not just as it should be". This phenomenon, labeled "not just right experiences" (NJREs), has increasingly been receiving attention as a possible marker of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The present study sought to add to the evidence that NJREs may be a putative endophenotype of obsessional symptoms. To this aim, measures of NJREs, obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms and psychological distress were compared in offspring of parents with and without OC symptoms. The offspring of parents with OC symptoms (N=120) reported higher frequency and severity of NJREs compared to offspring of parents without OC symptoms (N=106). Such differences remained significant for NJREs frequency and close to significance for NJREs severity, when general distress (i.e., anxiety and depression) was controlled. The possible role of NJREs as an endophenotype for OCD is discussed in reference to Gottesman and Gould criteria and the National Institute of Mental Health RDoC initiative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Sica
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Firenze, Italy.
| | - Gioia Bottesi
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Italy
| | - Corrado Caudek
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research, and Child Health, University of Firenze, Italy
| | | | - Marta Ghisi
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Italy
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Oren E, Friedmann N, Dar R. Things happen: Individuals with high obsessive-compulsive tendencies omit agency in their spoken language. Conscious Cogn 2016; 42:125-134. [PMID: 27003263 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2016.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Revised: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The study examined the prediction that obsessive-compulsive tendencies are related to an attenuated sense of agency (SoA). As most explicit agency judgments are likely to reflect also motivation for and expectation of control, we examined agency in sentence production. Reduced agency can be expressed linguistically by omitting the agent or by using grammatical framings that detach the event from the entity that caused it. We examined the use of agentic language of participants with high vs. low scores on a measure of obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms, using structured linguistic tasks in which sentences are elicited in a conversation-like setting. As predicted, high OC individuals produced significantly more non-agentic sentences than low OC individuals, using various linguistic strategies. The results suggest that OC tendencies are related to attenuated SoA. We discuss the implications of these findings for explicating the SoA in OCD and the potential contribution of language analysis for understanding psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ela Oren
- School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Naama Friedmann
- Language and Brain Lab, School of Education and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Reuven Dar
- School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Hanks CE, Lewin AB, Mutch PJ, Storch EA, Murphy TK. Social Deficits and Autism Spectrum Disorders in Tourette’s Syndrome. CURRENT DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS REPORTS 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s40474-015-0060-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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