Obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions in the general population: results from an epidemiological study in six European countries

Proactive control for conflict resolution is intact in subclinical obsessive-compulsive individuals

Background

Obsessive-compulsive (OC) traits (i.e., tendency to implement stereotyped behaviors to avoid negative consequences) are transversally observed in psychiatric disorders largely differing in terms of clinical manifestations and etiopathogenesis. Interestingly, OC traits were also extensively found in the prodromal phases of the full-blown psychopathology and in healthy relatives of affected individuals. Moreover, OC traits were found to be associated—and possibly underlain by—cognitive control impairments. Nonetheless, the role of such interplay in the onset of OC disorders is yet to be understood. We hypothesized that OC traits are associated with abnormalities in proactively implement cognitive control for solving conflict.

Methods

We administered healthy individuals (n = 104) with the perifoveal spatial Stroop task to measure their ability of solving conflict in a proactive fashion, and with Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (OCI) to stratify population according to the severity of OC traits.

Results

Analysis of response times by means of Linear Mixed-effect models revealed that proactive control performance was not associated with and the severity of OC traits. Furthermore, an equivalence test (Two One-Sided Test) revealed that the association between OCI scores and task performance was equivalent to zero.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the interplay between OC traits and proactive control abnormalities might not contribute to the development of OC-related disorders. Therefore, the role of other cognitive endophenotypes should be scrutinized for exploiting alternative prevention and intervention strategies.

Conceptual-level disgust conditioning in contamination-based obsessive-compulsive disorder

Pavlovian fear conditioning and extinction represent learning mechanisms underlying exposure-based interventions. While increasing evidence indicates a pivotal role of disgust in the development of contamination-based obsessive-compulsive disorder (C-OCD), dysregulations in conditioned disgust acquisition and maintenance, in particular driven by higher-order conceptual processes, have not been examined. Here, we address this gap by exposing individuals with high (HCC, n = 41) or low (LCC, n = 41) contamination concern to a conceptual-level disgust conditioning and extinction paradigm. Conditioned stimuli (CS+) were images from one conceptual category partially reinforced by unconditioned disgust-eliciting stimuli (US), while images from another category served as non-reinforced conditioned stimuli (CS-). Skin conductance responses (SCRs), US expectancy and CS valence ratings served as primary outcomes to quantify conditioned disgust responses. Relative to LCC, HCC individuals exhibited increased US expectancy and CS+ disgust experience, but comparable SCR levels following disgust acquisition. Despite a decrease in conditioned responses from the acquisition phase to the extinction phase, both groups did not fully extinguish the learned disgust. Importantly, the extinction resilience of acquired disgust was more pronounced in HCC individuals. Together, our findings suggest that individuals with high self-reported contamination concern exhibit increased disgust acquisition and resistance to extinction. The findings provide preliminary evidence on how dysregulated disgust learning mechanism across semantically related concepts may contribute to C-OCD.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms including 33,943 individuals from the general population

While 1-2% of individuals meet the criteria for a clinical diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), many more (~13-38%) experience subclinical obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) during their life. To characterize the genetic underpinnings of OCS and its genetic relationship to OCD, we conducted the largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis of parent- or self-reported OCS to date (N = 33,943 with complete phenotypic and genome-wide data), combining the results from seven large-scale population-based cohorts from Sweden, the Netherlands, England, and Canada (including six twin cohorts and one cohort of unrelated individuals). We found no genome-wide significant associations at the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) or gene-level, but a polygenic risk score (PRS) based on the OCD GWAS previously published by the Psychiatric Genetics Consortium (PGC-OCD) was significantly associated with OCS (Pfixed = 3.06 × 10-5). Also, one curated gene set (Mootha Gluconeogenesis) reached Bonferroni-corrected significance (Ngenes = 28, Beta = 0.79, SE = 0.16, Pbon = 0.008). Expression of genes in this set is high at sites of insulin mediated glucose disposal. Dysregulated insulin signaling in the etiology of OCS has been suggested by a previous study describing a genetic overlap of OCS with insulin signaling-related traits in children and adolescents. We report a SNP heritability of 4.1% (P = 0.0044) in the meta-analyzed GWAS, and heritability estimates based on the twin cohorts of 33-43%. Genetic correlation analysis showed that OCS were most strongly associated with OCD (rG = 0.72, p = 0.0007) among all tested psychiatric disorders (N = 11). Of all 97 tested phenotypes, 24 showed a significant genetic correlation with OCS, and 66 traits showed concordant directions of effect with OCS and OCD. OCS have a significant polygenic contribution and share genetic risk with diagnosed OCD, supporting the hypothesis that OCD represents the extreme end of widely distributed OCS in the population.

The importance of examining early maladaptive schemas in the diagnosis and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder

Introduction

The aim of the study was twofolded: to identify the early maladaptive schemas characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder in a Hungarian sample and, to examine the presence and severity of comorbid anxiety and depressive symptoms in the light of early maladaptive schemas.

Methods

112 participants (58 men and 54 women) diagnosed with OCD were involved in the study. The questionnaire package consisted of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) and the Schema Questionnaire (SQ).

Results

We identified five early maladaptive schemas with a direct effect on the manifestation of obsessive-compulsive symptoms: Mistrust-Abuse, Inferiority/Shame, Dependence/Incompetence, Insufficient Self-Control/Self-Discipline and Entitlement/Grandiosity (reversed effect). Based on the severity of the early maladaptive schemas, three significantly different groups could be identified in our sample: patients with mild, moderate and high schema-values. Among the groups significant differences can be found in the appearance and severity of compulsive symptoms, as well as in the presence of anxiety and depressive symptoms. But contrary to our expectations, not the severity, but the numberof the early maladaptive schemas showed a stronger correlation with the symptom variables. An additional result of our study derives from canonical correlation, addressing the relationship among early maladaptive schemas, OCD symptoms, anxiety and depressive symptoms from a new perspective. The results highlight that OCD is only one and not the most serious consequence of personality damage, indicated by early maladaptive schemas.

Discussion

The results of our study suggest that obsessive-compulsive disorder can be divided into several subgroups, which can be separated in terms of symptom severity, comorbid psychiatric symptoms and personality impairment patterns. The relationship between OCD symptom severity and personality impairment seems to be not directly proportional. Our results strengthen the new dimensional view of OCD, which can determine the selection of the appropriate therapeutic treatment method beyond the diagnostic process.

Worldwide prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

During the COVID-19 pandemic governments worldwide implemented contagion-containing measures (i.e., physical distancing, hand sanitizing, mask wearing and quarantine). The similarities between these measures and obsessive-compulsive phenomenology (e.g., contamination concerns and repetitive washing and/or checking) led to inquiries about the frequency with which obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) were encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to ascertain the prevalence of OCS in individuals of any age during the pandemic (i.e., any obsessive-compulsive symptoms that are clinically significant as shown by a score above the cut-off score of a scale, without necessarily fulfilling the diagnostic threshold for a diagnosis of OCD). A systematic search of relevant databases identified 35 studies, which were included in the systematic review following our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most of the studies were conducted in adults from the general population and adopted an online assessment method, with 32 studies being eligible for meta-analysis. The meta-analysis resulted in a 20% average prevalence of OCS during the pandemic, with very high heterogeneity among the included studies (I2 99.6%). The highest prevalence of OCS was found in pregnant women (36%, n = 5), followed by individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 (22%, n = 4) and general population (22%, n = 19), undergraduates (21%, n = 5), and healthcare workers (5%, n = 5). The prevalence rates of OCS were higher in Asia (26%, n = 17) and North America (25%, n = 3) than in Europe (13%, n = 12) and Africa (7%, n = 4). Among the studies included, rates appeared higher in certain countries, though this difference did not reach statistical significance and was limited by very few studies conducted in certain countries. When compared to pre-pandemic rates, there seemed to be higher rates of OCS during the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia, Europe, and pregnant women. These findings are discussed considering the impact of the pandemic and contagion-containing measures on the perception and reporting of OCS, and susceptibility of the vulnerable population groups to experiencing OCS during the pandemic.

The epidemiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Data from the Saudi National Mental Health Survey

AIMS

There is ongoing debate about the extent to which the epidemiology of OCD is similar across the world, given the lack of nationally representative data from key regions like the Middle East and North Africa. Using the nationally representative dataset from the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS), we aimed to delineate the epidemiological profile of OCD in the Saudi population.

METHODS

A subsample of 1981 participants from the SNMHS was assessed. Prevalence estimates and correlates of OCD were determined using logistic regressions and cross tabulations.

RESULTS

The lifetime, 12-month, and 30-day prevalence estimates for OCD were 4.2%, 1.8%, and 1.6%, respectively, with hoarding being the most common symptom dimension. The mean age-of-onset of OCD was 16.8 years. In over two-thirds of respondents with lifetime (72.2%) or 12-month (71.2%), OCD was accompanied by comorbid mental disorder, particularly impulse control, anxiety, and mood disorders. Among individuals with 12-month OCD, 77.5% reported severe impairment, and only 9.2% received treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

In Saudi Arabia, OCD is a prevalent and persistent condition, characterized by early onset, high odds of mental comorbidity, and significant associated impairment. These findings emphasize the universality of OCD epidemiology and the need for improved diagnosis and treatment globally.

Opening new vistas on obsessive-compulsive disorder with the observing response task

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a highly prevalent and debilitating disorder, is incompletely understood in terms of underpinning behavioural, psychological, and neural mechanisms. This is attributable to high symptomatic heterogeneity; cardinal features comprise obsessions and compulsions, including clinical subcategories. While obsessive and intrusive thoughts are arguably unique to humans, dysfunctional behaviours analogous to those seen in clinical OCD have been examined in nonhuman animals. Genetic, ethological, pharmacological, and neurobehavioural approaches all contribute to understanding the emergence and persistence of compulsive behaviour. One behaviour of particular interest is maladaptive checking, whereby human patients excessively perform checking rituals despite these serving no purpose. Dysfunctional and excessive checking is the most common symptom associated with OCD and can be readily operationalised in rodents. This review considers animal models of OCD, the neural circuitries associated with impairments in habit-based and goal-directed behaviour, and how these may link to the compulsions observed in OCD. We further review the Observing Response Task (ORT), an appetitive instrumental learning procedure that distinguishes between functional and dysfunctional checking, with translational application in humans and rodents. By shedding light on the psychological and neural bases of compulsive-like checking, the ORT has potential to offer translational insights into the underlying mechanisms of OCD, in addition to being a platform for testing psychological and neurochemical treatment approaches.

Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms: Baseline Prevalence, Comorbidity, and Implications in a Clinically Anxious Pediatric Sample

Subclinical symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (i.e., obsessive compulsive symptoms, or "OCS") cause functional impairment, including for youth without full-syndrome OCD. Further, despite high rates of OCS in youth with anxiety disorders, knowledge of OCS in the context of specific anxiety disorders is limited. The present study seeks to: (1) compare OCS in pediatric patients with anxiety disorders and healthy youth, (2) determine which categorical anxiety disorder(s) associate most with OCS, and (3) determine relationships between OCS with anxiety severity and impairment. Data on OCS, anxiety, and functional impairment were collected from 153 youth with anxiety disorders and 45 healthy controls, ages 7-17 years (M = 11.84, SD = 3.17). Findings indicated that patients had significantly more OCS than healthy controls. Among patients, GAD was a significant predictor of OCS as well as OCD risk. These results suggest that OCS should be a primary diagnostic and treatment consideration for youth who present in clinical settings with GAD.

Deep brain stimulation for treatment resistant obsessive compulsive disorder; an observational study with ten patients under real-life conditions

Introduction

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects 2-3% of the global population, causing distress in many functioning levels. Standard treatments only lead to a partial recovery, and about 10% of the patients remain treatment-resistant. Deep brain stimulation offers a treatment option for severe, therapy-refractory OCD, with a reported response of about 60%. We report a comprehensive clinical, demographic, and treatment data for patients who were treated with DBS in our institution.

Methods

We offered DBS to patients with severe chronic treatment resistant OCD. Severity was defined as marked impairment in functioning and treatment resistance was defined as non-response to adequate trials of medications and psychotherapy. Between 2020 and 2022, 11 patients were implanted bilaterally in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST). Patients were evaluated with YBOCS, MADRS, GAF, CGI, and WHOQOL-BREF. We performed the ratings at baseline (before surgery), after implantation before the start of the stimulation, after reaching satisfactory stimulation parameters, and at follow-up visits 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after optimized stimulation.

Results

One patient has retracted his consent to publish the results of his treatment, thus we are reporting the results of 10 patients (5 males, 5 females, mean age: 37 years). Out of our 10 patients, 6 have shown a clear response indicated by a YBOCS-reduction between 42 and 100 percent at last follow-up. One further patient experienced a subjectively dramatic effect on OCD symptoms, but opted afterwards to stop the stimulation. The other 3 patients showed a slight, non-significant improvement of YBOCS between 8.8 and 21.9%. The overall mean YBOCS decreased from 28.3 at baseline to 13.3 (53% reduction) at the last follow-up. The improvement of the OCD symptoms was also accompanied by an improvement of depressive symptoms, global functioning, and quality of life.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that BNST-DBS can be effective for treatment-resistant OCD patients, as indicated by a reduction in symptoms and an overall improvement in functioning. Despite the need for additional research to define the patients' selection criteria, the most appropriate anatomical target, and the most effective stimulation parameters, improved patient access for this therapy should be established.

Long-term stability in obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior in the general population: a longitudinal study in Sweden

OBJECTIVE

Obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior and their related disorder Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) commonly occur in the general population. Clinical populations indicate a high level of stability, although there are few longitudinal studies in the general population. The recommended drug treatments are SSRIs/TCAs. However, there are few long-term follow up studies. The goal of this study was to 1) examine the occurrence and stability of obsessions, compulsions, and OCD in a longitudinal population-based survey, 2) investigate the use of SSRI and TCA and the potential effect on symptoms.

METHODS

A ten-year longitudinal general population in Stockholm was used (2000 and 2010, n = 5650) Obsessional washing, checking, intrusive unpleasant thoughts and the level of suffering due to these symptoms were measured by self-report. Information on use of SSRIs and TCAs by these individuals was obtained from registers. Stability was examined using contingency tables and multinomial logistic regression.

RESULTS

At baseline, 2.1, 11.7 and 11.9% reported obsessional washing, checking and intrusive thoughts. A total of 5% reported considerable suffering from these (i.e. OCD). Based on psychiatric interview only 0.4% had OCD. Ten years later a quarter of OCD cases were still classified as having OCD, one quarter reported any obsessive or compulsive symptom and half were classified as symptom-free. Treatment receipt was low and controlling for medication did not change the stability.

CONCLUSION

Obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior are common and stable. While this group is potentially undertreated, there is no indication that those treated display a different pattern of recovery.

Error-related brain activity associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms in youth

BACKGROUND

Subclinical obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) are common in children, and increase risk for later onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In pediatric patients with OCD, neuroimaging research implicates altered neural mechanisms for error-processing, but whether abnormal brain response occurs with subclinical OCS remains poorly understood.

METHODS

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), 113 youth (8-18 years; 45 female) from a community sample were scanned during an error-eliciting Go/No-Go task. OCS were assessed dimensionally using the obsessive-compulsive subscale of the Child Behavior Checklist. The association between OCS scores and error-related brain activity was examined at the whole-brain level.

RESULTS

Lower OCS scores associated with stronger response to errors in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), caudate, putamen, thalamus, and occipital cortex. Additionally, lower OCS related to higher capacity for inhibitory control, as indexed by greater accuracy on No-Go trials during fMRI scanning. The relationship between lower OCS and better accuracy on No-Go trials was mediated by greater error-related dACC activity.

CONCLUSIONS

The inverse relationship between OCS and error-related activity in the dACC and extended cortical-striatal-thalamic circuitry may index an adaptive process by which subclinical OCS are minimized in youth. Further, these results identify an observable pattern of brain activity that tracks with subclinical OCS severity. Understanding the link between neural networks for error processing and the normal to abnormal range of OCS may pave the way for brain-based strategies to identify children who are more likely to develop OCD and enable the targeting of preventive strategies to reduce risk.

Therapies for obsessive-compulsive disorder: Current state of the art and perspectives for approaching treatment-resistant patients

Even though obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the ten most disabling diseases according to the WHO, only 30-40% of patients suffering from OCD seek specialized treatment. The currently available psychotherapeutic and pharmacological approaches, when properly applied, prove ineffective in about 10% of cases. The use of neuromodulation techniques, especially Deep Brain Stimulation, is highly promising for these clinical pictures and knowledge in this domain is constantly evolving. The aim of this paper is to provide a summary of the current knowledge about OCD treatment, while also discussing the more recent proposals for defining resistance.

Conradi-Hünerman-Happle Syndrome and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: a clinical case report

BACKGROUND

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common and chronic psychiatric disorder with significant morbidity characterized by intrusive, uncontrollable and reoccurring thoughts (i.e., obsessions) and/or ritualistic behaviours (i.e., compulsions). Conradi-Hünerman-Happle Syndrome (CHHS) is a rare inherited X-linked dominant variant of chondrodysplasia punctata, a heterogeneous group of rare bone dysplasias characterized by punctate epiphyseal calcifications of complex etiology and pathophysiology that remain to be defined. Available literature reveals a lacuna in regards to the coexistence of the entities with no clinical reports described.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 12 year old female patient with diagnosis of CHHS, presents to psychiatric consultation due to aggravation of her OCD clinical picture, with aggravation of hand-washing frequency during the Covid-19 pandemic with significant functional impact. Psychopharmacological treatment aimed at OCD with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) and antipsychotic was instituted with favourable, albeit partial response.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors aim to describe a clinical case in which the patient presents with Conradi-Hünerman-Happle Syndrome and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Clinical descriptions of CHHS and OCD are not available in the literature. Through this case description the authors aim to present a rare case as well as discuss an eventual association between etiology and/or pathophysiology of the two disorders.

Prevalence and correlates of hoarding behavior and hoarding disorder in children and adolescents

Although hoarding symptoms are reported to begin in childhood and adolescence, the true prevalence of the disorder in this age group is unknown. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of hoarding disorder (HD) in children and adolescents. The present study was planned as a two-stage epidemiological research. In the first stage, the Children's Saving Inventory (CSI) and informed consent forms were delivered to a group of students' parents. In the second stage, one-on-one psychiatric interviews with a physician were planned with the families and children who had hoarding behavior (HB), as described by their parents. The DSM-5-based HD interview and the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA) diagnostic tool were used to detect prevalence of HD and comorbid psychiatric disorders. A total of 3249 children were included in the study, and 318 children and their parents were evaluated in the second stage. As a result of the second assessment, 32 out of 318 children met the HD diagnostic criteria. The estimated prevalence of HD was 0.98% (95% CI 0.7-1.4). Hoarding disorder was found more frequently in females (F/M = 3/1). After a logistic regression analysis, variables such as female sex and the presence of any psychopathology were identified as independent correlates of HD. More than half (56.2%) of the children diagnosed as having HD also had a comorbid psychiatric disorder. In the present study, the two-stage evaluation method was used in a large pediatric sample to determine the estimated prevalence of HD, as well as the factors associated with the disorder and comorbid psychiatric disorders.

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms among the general population during the first COVID-19 epidemic wave in Italy

This study investigated obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) in the Italian general population during the initial stage of the pandemic and the impact of COVID-19 related potential risk factors. A web-based survey was spread throughout the internet between March 27th and April 9th^, 2020. Twenty thousand two hundred forty-one individuals completed the questionnaire, 80.6% women. The Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS) was included to assess the severity of the obsessive-compulsive symptom domains. Further, selected outcomes were depression, anxiety, insomnia, perceived stress, and COVID-19 related stressful life events. A panel of logistic or linear regression analyses was conducted to explore the impact of COVID-19 related risk factors, socio-demographic variables, and mental health outcomes on OCS. A total of 7879 subjects (38,9%) reported clinically relevant OCS. Specifically, more than half of the sample (52%) reported clinically relevant symptoms in the Contamination domain, 32.5% in the Responsibility domain, 29.9% in the Unacceptable thoughts domain, and 28.6 in the Symmetry/Ordering domain. Being a woman was associated with OCS, except for Symmetry/Ordering symptoms. A lower education level and younger age were associated with OCS. Moreover, depression, anxiety, perceived stress symptoms, insomnia, and different COVID-19 related stressful events were associated with OCS. We found high rates of OCS, particularly in the contamination domain, in the Italian general population exposed to the first COVID-19 epidemic wave and COVID-19 related risk factors. These findings suggest the need to investigate further the trajectories of OCS in the general population along with the long-term socio-economic impact of the pandemic.

Serotonin Modulates the Correlations between Obsessive-compulsive Trait and Heart Rate Variability in Normal Healthy Subjects: A SPECT Study with [123I]ADAM and Heart Rate Variability Measurement

Objective

The impact of serotonergic system on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is well studied. However, the correlation between OC presentations and autonomic nervous system (ANS) is still unclear. Furthermore, whether the correlation might be modulated by serotonin is also uncertain.

Methods

We recruited eighty-nine healthy subjects. Serotonin transporter (SERT) availability by [¹²³I]ADAM and heart rate variability (HRV) tests were measured. Symptoms checklist-90 was measured for the OC presentations. The interaction between HRV and SERT availability were calculated and the correlation between HRV and OC symptoms were analyzed after stratified SERT level into two groups, split at medium.

Results

The interactions were significant in the factors of low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD). Furthermore, the significantly negative correlations between OC symptoms and the above HRV indexes existed only in subjects with higher SERT availability.

Conclusion

OC symptoms might be correlated with ANS regulations in subjects with higher SERT availability.

A remote cognitive behavioural therapy approach to treating hoarding disorder in an older adult

Hoarding disorder (HD) is characterised by excessive acquisition and distress associated with discarding objects, resulting in significant clutter. At present, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) represents the strongest evidence base for treating HD, although some limitations exist. Little research has examined the effectiveness of remote-CBT interventions for HD in older adults. This case study focuses on Mary, an older female adult presenting with clinically significant hoarding behaviours which severely impact her daily functioning and quality of life. Assessment and intervention followed a structured CBT approach. Despite the complicating factor of COVID-19, Mary responded well to a remote-CBT intervention, with progress indicators suggesting modest improvements in personal, social and occupational functioning. These findings support the use of remote-CBT for HD in both reducing frequency and intensity of hoarding behaviours and improving wellbeing.

Key learning aims

(1)

Sensory over-responsivity and obsessive-compulsive disorder: Measuring habituation and sensitivity through self-report, physiological and behavioral indices

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.

The impact of postpartum obsessive-compulsive symptoms on child development and the mediating role of the parent-child relationship: A prospective longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

The first 2 years of life are a particularly sensitive period for the parent-child relationship as well as a healthy, age-appropriate child development. Both have been shown to be linked to postpartum depressive and anxiety symptoms, while the role of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, which are also common, is still largely understudied. In addition, fathers have been neglected in this area of research. This study, which includes both mothers and fathers, aims to investigate the longitudinal associations between postpartum obsessive-compulsive symptoms and different domains of child development, as well as the mediating role of the parent-child relationship.

METHODS

Data were drawn from the prospective longitudinal study DREAM, with 674 mothers and 442 fathers from the general population completing self-report questionnaires at four measurement points. Longitudinal associations between parental postpartum obsessive-compulsive symptoms 8 weeks postpartum, the parent-child relationship 14 months postpartum, and child development 24 months postpartum were investigated using regression and mediation analyses. A number of potential confounding variables were considered, i.e., age, academic degree, postpartum depressive and anxiety symptoms of the parents, preterm birth and temperament of the child, as well as COVID-19 pandemic-driven adversities.

RESULTS

When adjusting for confounders, neither maternal nor paternal postpartum obsessive-compulsive symptoms had adverse effects on the respective parent-child relationship and child development. Further, no mediating role of the parent-child relationship between parental postpartum obsessive-compulsive symptoms and child development could be confirmed. Instead, we found that the mother- and father-child relationship were differentially related to specific child developmental domains. For mothers, a poorer mother-child relationship was prospectively related to poorer fine motor development. For fathers, a poorer father-child relationship prospectively predicted a poorer overall development as well as poorer gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social development.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that negative effects on the parent-child relationship and child development may only become apparent in full-blown postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder. Given the differential impact on specific developmental domains, our findings also suggest that it is crucial to consider both parents in clinical practice as well as in future research, rather than focusing only on the mother-child dyad.

Gender-related romantic attachment and serum oxytocin level difference in adult patients with obsessive compulsive disorder

Background

Given the scarcity of data on gender-related romantic attachment changes and the potential role of oxytocin (OT) in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive illness (OCD), the current study aimed to assess gender-related differences in romantic attachment characteristics and their relationship to serum oxytocin in a set of forty OCD cases compared with a similar group of healthy controls .Simultaneously examining the gender differences in serum oxytocin levels in OCD patients, the diagnosis of OCD patients was determined using DSM-5 criteria, and the severity of OCD was determined using the Y-BOCS rating scale. All of the patients were drug-free and not depressed. The romantic attachment was assessed using the “Experiences in Close Relationship” Questionnaire. Standard ELISA kits were used to assess plasma OT levels.

Results

Regarding romantic attachments, patients with obsessive compulsive disorder scored higher on the anxiety and avoidance domains than controls with no significant gender difference. Serum oxytocin was higher in patients with OCD than in healthy controls, indicating a possible underlying pathophysiology of the illness. Also, there was a significant gender difference, with female patients having higher serum oxytocin and symptoms severity being negatively associated.

Conclusions

Taken together, these findings propose that OT may play a role in OCD pathophysiology with gender specificity. Also, OCD associated with insecure romantic attachment.

The Relationship Between Compulsive Buying and Hoarding in China: A Multicenter Study

There is no previous research that has explored the correlation between compulsive buying and hoarding in the Chinese population. This study aims to determine the relationship between compulsive buying and hoarding in a sample of the Chinese population comprising participants from mainland China (emerging economy) and Hong Kong (developed economy). Self-reported measures consisting of demographic questions, the Chinese version of the Hoarding Rating Scale (CHRS), and Richmond Compulsive Buying Scale-Traditional Chinese (RCBS-TC) were administered to participants. After data collection, common method biases were precluded. The RCBS-TC and CHRS were validated by confirmatory factor analysis and found correlated by Pearson correlation coefficient. The RCBS-TC and CHRS demonstrated satisfactory levels of internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.872 and 0.828, respectively). A three-factor model, including hoarding, obsessive-compulsive, and impulse control disorders, was obtained through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) with the satisfactory fit for the total sample from Hong Kong and mainland China. A significant correlation was found between RCBS-TC and CHRS (r = 0.473). Findings also showed that 14% of the participants exhibited compulsive buying behavior. This study provides sufficient proof of the reliability and validity of RCBS-TC and CHRS. Their relationship was explored based on two sets of samples from different regions in Asia, which contributes more applicability in a cross-cultural context.

Obsessive Thought, Compulsive Behavior, and Their Associations With Suicide Ideation and Attempts and Major Depressive Disorder: A Nationwide Community Sample of Korean Adults

ABSTRACT

In this study, we defined obsessive thoughts (OT) as bothersome, unpleasant thoughts about oneself that keep entering the mind against one's will, and compulsive behavior (CB) as behavior that a person repeats against his or her wishes. The study included 12,532 adults selected randomly through a one-person-per-household method. Each subject selected underwent a face-to-face interview using the Korean version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview with a questionnaire that examines lifetime suicide attempts (LSAs). Among the participants, 341 (2.74%) had OT and 639 (5.14%) had CB. The highest LSA rate was in subjects with both OT and CB, followed by those with either OT or CB; subjects with neither OT nor CB had the lowest LSA rate. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis of OT and CB, OT, ordering, and rituals of repeating words were significantly associated with LSAs. In subjects with OT and CB, those with MDD had a significantly higher risk of LSAs compared with those without, and MDD with both OT and CB showed odds of approximately 27-fold (adjusted odds ratio, 27.24; 13.29-55.82; p < 0.0001) compared with those without MDD, OT, or CB. OT and CB were associated with increased risk of LSAs, and comorbid MDD further increased LSAs.

Genomics of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder-Toward Personalized Medicine in the Era of Big Data

Pathogenesis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) mainly involves dysregulation of serotonergic neurotransmission, but a number of other factors are involved. Genetic underprints of OCD fall under the category of "common disease common variant hypothesis," that suggests that if a disease that is heritable is common in the population (a prevalence >1-5%), then the genetic contributors-specific variations in the genetic code-will also be common in the population. Therefore, the genetic contribution in OCD is believed to come from multiple genes simultaneously and it is considered a polygenic disorder. Genomics offers a number of advanced tools to determine causal relationship between the exposure and the outcome of interest. Particularly, methods such as polygenic risk score (PRS) or Mendelian Randomization (MR) enable investigation of new pathways involved in OCD pathogenesis. This premise is also facilitated by the existence of publicly available databases that include vast study samples. Examples include population-based studies such as UK Biobank, China Kadoorie Biobank, Qatar Biobank, All of US Program sponsored by National Institute of Health or Generations launched by Yale University, as well as disease-specific databases, that include patients with OCD and co-existing pathologies, with the following examples: Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC), ENIGMA OCD, The International OCD Foundation Genetics Collaborative (IOCDF-GC) or OCD Collaborative Genetic Association Study. The aim of this review is to present a comprehensive overview of the available Big Data resources for the study of OCD pathogenesis in the context of genomics and demonstrate that OCD should be considered a disorder which requires the approaches offered by personalized medicine.

Genetics of obsessive-compulsive disorder

BACKGROUND

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder with multiple symptom dimensions (e.g. contamination, symmetry). OCD clusters in families and decades of twin studies clearly demonstrate an important role for genetics in the etiology of the disorder.

METHODS

In this review, we summarize the genetic epidemiology and molecular genetic studies of OCD and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

RESULTS

OCD is a heritable, polygenic disorder with contributions from both common and rare variants, including de novo deleterious variations. Multiple studies have provided reliable support for a large additive genetic contribution to liability to OCD, with discrete OCD symptom dimensions having both shared and unique genetic risks. Genome-wide association studies have not produced significant results yet, likely because of small sample sizes, but larger meta-analyses are forthcoming. Both twin and genome-wide studies show that OCD shares genetic risk with its comorbid conditions (e.g. Tourette syndrome and anorexia nervosa).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite significant efforts to uncover the genetic basis of OCD, the mechanistic understanding of how genetic and environmental risk factors interact and converge at the molecular level to result in OCD's heterogeneous phenotype is still mostly unknown. Future investigations should increase ancestral genetic diversity, explore age and/or sex differences in genetic risk for OCD and expand the study of pharmacogenetics, gene expression, gene × environment interactions and epigenetic mechanisms for OCD.

Adverse Social Relationships in Childhood: Are there Links with Depression, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Suicidality in Adulthood?

This study aimed to (i) explore the association between perceptions of negative social relationships in childhood with significant others, including peers, guardians and teachers, symptoms of depression and OCD, and suicide behaviors, and (ii) examine whether depression and OCD severity meditated the association between these perceptions and suicide experiences. In total, 783 individuals from the community were invited to complete self-report measures. There were strong associations between perceptions of adverse social relationships in childhood, severity of depression and OCD, and suicide behaviors. Furthermore, depression and OCD partially mediated the association between perceptions of adverse social relationships, especially with peers, and suicide behaviors. These results provide strong evidence for the importance of developing clinical interventions that directly target negative experiences of social relationships in childhood, and for raising public and scientific awareness that everyday adverse social interactions with significant others can impact negatively on mental health including suicide behaviors.

A dimensional perspective on the genetics of obsessive-compulsive disorder

This review covers recent findings in the genomics of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and related traits from a dimensional perspective. We focus on discoveries stemming from technical and methodological advances of the past five years and present a synthesis of human genomics research on OCD. On balance, reviewed studies demonstrate that OCD is a dimensional trait with a highly polygenic architecture and genetic correlations to multiple, often comorbid psychiatric phenotypes. We discuss the phenotypic and genetic findings of these studies in the context of the dimensional framework, relying on a continuous phenotype definition, and contrast these observations with discoveries based on a categorical diagnostic framework, relying on a dichotomous case/control definition. Finally, we highlight gaps in knowledge and new directions for OCD genetics research.

Developmental Trajectories of Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms

Children who experience obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) may be at risk for developing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The current study aimed to investigate developmental trajectories of OCS, as well as possible predictors, within a community-based sample of children. Children (N = 1147) from the longitudinal NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD) were assessed for OCS, via the Child Behavioral Checklist - Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (OCS-8), eight times between Pre-Kindergarten (54 months; Pre-K) and High School (15 years of age; HS.) Participants were recruited within the United States and included only maternal caregivers. Preliminary analyses indicated that approximately 3% of the sample was above the diagnostic cutoff score on the OCS-8 at the High School time-point. Latent growth models tested symptom trajectories. Findings demonstrated three groups of OCS trajectories. Most children fell within a low symptomatology group (the No Peak group) with low OCS across all time points. Two additional OCS trajectories were also demonstrated: Pre-K Peak (high to low OCS across time) and HS Peak (low to high OCS across time). Both higher attention problems and greater depression/anxiety symptoms at the Pre-K time point predicted children's membership in the Pre-K Peak or HS Peak groups compared to the No Peak group. Membership within the HS Peak group predicted a high likelihood of children's OCS being above previously established cutoff scores for an OCD diagnosis at age 15 years. Membership within either the Pre-K Peak or No Peak groups predicted a low likelihood. This study provides new evidence for the existence of different developmental trajectories for youth with OCS. From a clinical perspective, these results may have important implications when considering the identification and early intervention of childhood OCS and OCD within the community.

Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms Among Children in the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development Study: Clinical, Cognitive, and Brain Connectivity Correlates

BACKGROUND

Childhood obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCSs) are common and can be an early risk marker for obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study provides a unique opportunity to characterize OCSs in a large normative sample of school-age children and to explore corticostriatal and task-control circuits implicated in pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder.

METHODS

The ABCD Study acquired data from 9- and 10-year-olds (N = 11,876). Linear mixed-effects models probed associations between OCSs (Child Behavior Checklist) and cognition (NIH Toolbox), brain structure (subcortical volume, cortical thickness), white matter (diffusion tensor imaging), and resting-state functional connectivity.

RESULTS

OCS scores showed good psychometric properties and high prevalence, and they were related to familial/parental factors, including family conflict. Higher OCS scores related to better cognitive performance (β = .06, t9966.60 = 6.28, p < .001, ηp2= .01), particularly verbal, when controlling for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, which related to worse performance. OCSs did not significantly relate to brain structure but did relate to lower superior corticostriatal tract fractional anisotropy (β = -.03, t = -3.07, p = .002, ηp2= .02). Higher OCS scores were related to altered functional connectivity, including weaker connectivity within the dorsal attention network (β = -.04, t7262.87 = -3.71, p < .001, ηp2= .002) and weaker dorsal attention-default mode anticorrelation (β = .04, t7251.95 = 3.94, p < .001, ηp2 = .002). Dorsal attention-default mode connectivity predicted OCS scores at 1 year (β = -.04, t2407.61 = -2.23, p = .03, ηp2 = .03).

CONCLUSIONS

OCSs are common and may persist throughout childhood. Corticostriatal connectivity and attention network connectivity are likely mechanisms in the subclinical-to-clinical spectrum of OCSs. Understanding correlates and mechanisms of OCSs may elucidate their role in childhood psychiatric risk and suggest potential utility of neuroimaging, e.g., dorsal attention-default mode connectivity, for identifying children at increased risk for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Association Between Obsessive-Compulsive Symptom Dimensions in Mothers and Psychopathology in Their Children

Background: The non-clinical presentation of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) in women may impact not only their daily lives and well-being but also increase the risk for emotional and behavioral problems in their children. This study aims to investigate the OCS dimension distribution in a large sample of mothers from a cohort of school age children and the association between these OCS dimensions with their own psychopathology, and with the presence of OCS and other psychopathology in their children. Method: Our final sample consisted of 2,511 mother-children dyads recruited from the elementary schools of two large cities. Throughout multiple regression analysis, we examined the correlations between demographic and clinical variables of mothers assessed by the Mini International Psychiatric Interview (MINI) and the Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale-Short Version (DY-BOCS-SV) with children's psychopathology status reported by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Results: The overall prevalence of mothers who reported experiencing at least one OCS was 40% (N = 1,004). "Aggression/violence" was the most frequent symptom dimension (32.2%), followed by the "symmetry/ordering" (16.4%) and the "sexual/religious" dimensions (13.8%). There was a significant correlation between the presence of OCS and maternal psychopathology in general (p < 0.001, r = 0.397). Not only the presence but also the severity of the mother's OCS were strongly correlated to the total (p < 0.001), internalizing (p < 0.001), externalizing (p < 0.001), and OCS subscale scores (p < 0.001) on the CBCL. Conclusion: OCS dimensions are highly prevalent in women. Presence and severity of maternal OCS are related to children's psychopathology and behavioral problems.

Shared genetic etiology between obsessive-compulsive disorder, obsessive-compulsive symptoms in the population, and insulin signaling

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) in the population have been linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in genetic and epidemiological studies. Insulin signaling has been implicated in OCD. We extend previous work by assessing genetic overlap between OCD, population-based OCS, and central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral insulin signaling. We conducted genome-wide association studies (GWASs) in the population-based Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort (PNC, 650 children and adolescents) of the total OCS score and six OCS factors from an exploratory factor analysis of 22 questions. Subsequently, we performed polygenic risk score (PRS)-based analysis to assess shared genetic etiologies between clinical OCD (using GWAS data from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium), the total OCS score and OCS factors. We then performed gene-set analyses with a set of OCD-linked genes centered around CNS insulin-regulated synaptic function and PRS-based analyses for five peripheral insulin signaling-related traits. For validation purposes, we explored data from the independent Spit for Science population cohort (5,047 children and adolescents). In the PNC, we found a significant shared genetic etiology between OCD and 'guilty taboo thoughts'. In the Spit for Science cohort, we additionally observed genetic sharing between 'symmetry/counting/ordering' and 'contamination/cleaning'. The CNS insulin-linked gene-set also associated with 'symmetry/counting/ordering' in the PNC. Further, we identified genetic sharing between peripheral insulin signaling-related traits: type 2 diabetes with 'aggressive taboo thoughts', and levels of fasting insulin and 2 h glucose with OCD. In conclusion, OCD, OCS in the population and insulin-related traits share genetic risk factors, indicating a common etiological mechanism underlying somatic and psychiatric disorders.

Metacognitive beliefs mediate the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and traits of obsessive-compulsive symptoms

BACKGROUND

Metacognition has been shown as a key contributor to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder as well as other anxiety-related disorders, yet its role in the development and maintenance of these disorders remains unclear. This study aims to investigate whether anxiety sensitivity traits are related to obsessive-compulsive symptoms in the general population and whether the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and obsessive-compulsive symptoms is mediated by metacognition.

METHODS

Non-clinical volunteers (N = 156, mean age: 23.97, 121 females) completed measures related to state/trait anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, obsessive compulsive symptoms and metacognition.

RESULTS

A direct relationship between anxiety sensitivity and obsessive-compulsive symptoms was established. Further analysis revealed that metacognition was the strongest mediator of this relationship, even when accounting for state and trait anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that the relationships between traits of anxiety sensitivity and obsessive-compulsive symptoms are partially attributable to the role of metacognition.

Sensory Habituation as a Shared Mechanism for Sensory Over-Responsivity and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms

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.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Suicidal Experiences: The Role of Experiential Avoidance

OBJECTIVE

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disabling mental health problem that affects a significant proportion of the general population. Experiential avoidance appears to account for the development of anxiety and depressive symptoms. However, its relationship with OCD has yielded contradictory results. Furthermore, although OCD-specific thoughts and behaviors, including obsessing, checking, washing, and ordering, have been suggested to significantly predict suicidal ideation and behaviors, this line of research has received scant empirical attention. The overarching aim of this study was to explore the relationship between OCD, OCD-specific behaviors, experiential avoidance, and suicidal experiences.

METHODS

Overall, 1,046 adults from the community who completed self-report scales participated.

RESULTS

Strong links between overall OCD severity, obsessing, experiential avoidance, and suicidal experiences were established. Results from mediational analyses showed that overall OCD severity and individual obsessive-compulsive thoughts and behaviors were both directly and indirectly linked with suicidal experiences, via experiential avoidance. Obsessing was among the critical obsessive-compulsive symptoms leading to suicidal experiences.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings are important because they identify experiential avoidance as a potential key explanatory construct in accounting for the development of OCD and suicidal experiences. However, future research using longitudinal and/or experimental designs is needed to infer causality.

The speed of progression towards obsessive-compulsive disorder

BACKGROUND

There is current interest in the elaboration of early intervention programs for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). To this end, it is important to investigate the speed of progression from subthreshold symptoms to diagnosable OCD. In this study, we have retrospectively investigated the speed of progression towards full-blown OCD and sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with a faster transition.

METHODS

Patients enrolled in the Brazilian Research Consortium on Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders (N = 954) were interviewed with a comprehensive assessment battery that included the interval (in years) between the onset of subthreshold OCD symptoms and the onset of full-blown OCD.

RESULTS

It took a median of 7 years (interquartile range: 2-13 years) for subthreshold symptoms to convert to diagnosable OCD. Faster OCD onset was associated with lower age at the time of assessment, male gender, being in new romantic states as precipitants for compulsions, greater severity of sexual/religious symptoms and lower severity of hoarding and YBOCS compulsions severity scores, greater rates of generalized anxiety disorder and agoraphobia without panic disorder, and negative family history for OCD.

LIMITATIONS

The retrospective design of this study allowed for susceptibility to memory bias about age at onset of OCD symptoms. We were unable to capture progressions taking less than 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

We could identify a specific phenotype that was more likely to escalate rapidly to clinical levels within this large clinical sample. This phenomenon may be particularly relevant in the context of selecting individuals for early intervention initiatives in situations when resources are scarce.

Obsessive-compulsive symptom profiles in individuals exposed to interpersonal versus noninterpersonal trauma

Obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms have been associated with trauma exposure. Although no studies have specified relations between type of trauma and OC symptom presentations, this information may inform personalized care for this complex population. Thus, this study used profile analysis via multidimensional scaling to characterize typical OC symptom profiles in individuals exposed to interpersonal versus noninterpersonal traumas. Profiles were also correlated with self-reported disgust and mental contamination, which have been related to OC symptoms and interpersonal trauma in prior research. The interpersonal trauma group revealed two profiles: (1) Obsessing (high obsessing, low neutralizing), and (2) Ordering (high ordering, low obsessing). The noninterpersonal trauma group showed two profiles: (1) Hoarding/Ordering (high hoarding and ordering, low washing), and (2) Hoarding Only (high hoarding, low ordering). No significant correlations were found between OC profiles and disgust-related constructs. Clinical implications, limitations, and future directions are explored.

Sex-specific association between the cortisol awakening response and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in healthy individuals

Background

Previous studies have shown associations between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity (HPA). We aimed to investigate the association between obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms and HPA axis functionality in a non-clinical sample and to explore whether there are sex differences in this relationship.

Methods

One hundred eighty-three healthy individuals without any psychiatric diagnosis (80 men, 103 women; mean age 41.3 ± 17.9 years) were recruited from the general population. The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory Revised (OCI-R) was used to assess OC symptoms. State-trait anxiety, perceived stress, and stressful life events were also assessed. Saliva cortisol levels were determined at 6 time points (awakening, 30 and 60 min post-awakening, 10:00 a.m., 23:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. the following day of 0.25 mg dexamethasone intake [that occurred at 23:00 p.m.]). Three HPA axis measures were calculated: cortisol awakening response (CAR), cortisol diurnal slope, and cortisol suppression ratio after dexamethasone (DSTR). Multiple linear regression analyses were used to explore the association between OC symptoms and HPA axis measures while adjusting for covariates. Our main analyses were focused on OCI-R total score, but we also explored associations with specific OC symptom dimensions.

Results

No significant differences were observed between males and females in OC symptoms, anxiety measures, stress, or cortisol measures. In the multiple linear regression analyses between overall OC symptoms and HPA axis measures, a female sex by OC symptoms significant interaction (standardized beta = − 0.322; p = 0.023) for the CAR (but not cortisol diurnal slope nor DSTR) was found. Regarding specific symptom dimensions, two other sex interactions were found: a blunted CAR was associated with obsessing symptoms in women, whereas a more flattened diurnal cortisol slope was associated with ordering symptoms in men.

Conclusions

There are sex differences in the association between OC symptoms and HPA axis measures in healthy individuals.

Prevalence of Hoarding Disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Currently there is uncertainty concerning the prevalence of Hoarding Disorder (HD) due to methodological issues in the evidence base. Estimates have widely ranged from between 1.5% and 6% of the general population. This systematic review and meta-analysis therefore aimed to summarise and reliably estimate the prevalence of HD by employing strict inclusion criteria and using studies with sufficiently large samples. A systematic literature search was conducted to identify all relevant prevalence studies. Inclusion criteria were studies that reported working age adult HD prevalence rates and had sample sizes of at least 1009 participants. Eleven studies met criteria (n = 53,378), had low risk of bias and were originally based in developed countries. A random effects meta-analysis was then conducted, with subgroup moderator analysis and meta-regression. The pooled estimated prevalence for HD was 2.5% (CI 1.7-3.6%) and subgroup analyses revealed that prevalence rates were similar for both males and females. Guidance on the manner in which HD is assessed in future prevalence studies is provided and the clinical implications of the results discussed.

Prevalence, comorbidity, quality of life and use of services of obsessive-compulsive disorder and subthreshold obsessive-compulsive symptoms in the general adult population of Greece

Objective: We aimed to describe the epidemiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related subthreshold symptoms in the general population of Greece and to assess the comorbidity, use of health services and impact on quality of life of these syndromes in the general population. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the 2009-2010 general population Greek psychiatric morbidity survey (4902 participants living in private households, response rate 54%). Psychiatric disorders were assessed with the revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R). Quality of life was assessed with the EuroQoL EQ-5D. Results: 1.69% of the participants (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33%-2.05%) met criteria for current OCD while 2.79% met criteria for subthreshold obsessive-compulsive symptoms (95%CI: 2.33%-3.26%). In the adjusted analysis few sociodemographic associations remained statistically significant. Although the full-blown syndrome was more severe in terms of comorbidity and quality of life our results showed that even subthreshold obsessive-compulsive symptoms were associated with significant comorbidity and reductions in quality of life. Use of mental health services was small. Conclusions: OCD is an under-treated public health problem that needs more attention in Greece and elsewhere. Provision of specialised mental health services should be a priority for publicly funded national health systems. Keypoints OCD is common in the general population of Greece with few sociodemographic associations apart from subjective financial difficulties. The comorbidity pattern of the full-blown syndrome versus the subthreshold obsessive-compulsive symptoms is similar and differs in magnitude in the expected way. Quality of life in OCD is greatly reduced especially when there is chronicity and/or comorbidity with depression. Use of services is limited but comorbidity with depression may increase the chances of consultation with a mental health professional.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Autoimmunity and Neuroinflammation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Here, we propose to review the immuno-inflammatory hypothesis in OCD given the concurrent incidence of autoimmune comorbidities, infectious stigma, and raised levels of inflammatory markers in a significant subset of patients. A better understanding of the immune dysfunction in OCD may allow stratifying the patients in order to design personalized pharmaco/psychotherapeutic strategies.

RECENT FINDINGS

A persistent low-grade inflammation involving both innate and adaptive immune system with coexisting autoimmune morbidities and stigma of infectious events has been prominently observed in OCD. Hence, specific treatments targeting inflammation/infection are a feasible alternative in OCD. This review highlights that OCD is associated with low-grade inflammation, neural antibodies, and neuro-inflammatory and auto-immune disorders. In some subset of OCD patients, autoimmunity is likely triggered by specific bacterial, viral, or parasitic agents with overlapping surface epitopes in CNS. Hence, subset-profiling in OCD is warranted to benefit from distinct immune-targeted treatment modalities.

Early intervention for obsessive compulsive disorder: An expert consensus statement

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is common, emerges early in life and tends to run a chronic, impairing course. Despite the availability of effective treatments, the duration of untreated illness (DUI) is high (up to around 10 years in adults) and is associated with considerable suffering for the individual and their families. This consensus statement represents the views of an international group of expert clinicians, including child and adult psychiatrists, psychologists and neuroscientists, working both in high and low and middle income countries, as well as those with the experience of living with OCD. The statement draws together evidence from epidemiological, clinical, health economic and brain imaging studies documenting the negative impact associated with treatment delay on clinical outcomes, and supporting the importance of early clinical intervention. It draws parallels between OCD and other disorders for which early intervention is recognized as beneficial, such as psychotic disorders and impulsive-compulsive disorders associated with problematic usage of the Internet, for which early intervention may prevent the development of later addictive disorders. It also generates new heuristics for exploring the brain-based mechanisms moderating the 'toxic' effect of an extended DUI in OCD. The statement concludes that there is a global unmet need for early intervention services for OC related disorders to reduce the unnecessary suffering and costly disability associated with under-treatment. New clinical staging models for OCD that may be used to facilitate primary, secondary and tertiary prevention within this context are proposed.

Corticostriatal-limbic correlates of sub-clinical obsessive-compulsive traits

Obsessive-compulsive (OC) traits such as intrusive worrisome ideas or excessive concerns for threats are frequent in general population (5%-13%). However, the structural neural correlates of the sub-clinical OC traits remain largely unknown. Based on the data of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), we hypothesized that the subcortical and cortical structures, constituting the cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical circuit (CSTC) and the limbic system, could be associated with OC traits. Here we conducted voxel-based morphometry (VBM) in order to investigate fine grained volume changes of these structures in 49 non-clinical subjects. Analysis of structural covariances of these structures was also conducted. We identified volume changes associated with OC traits in the left putamen and the left amygdala. The results of structural covariance analysis revealed increased covariances in relation to the heightened OC traits between the left putamen to bilateral medial prefrontal cortex and to the left cerebellum, and between the left globus pallidus to the bilateral anterior cingulate cortices. The present finding of volume changes of the corticostriatal-limbic structures may reflect neuroplasticity associated with OC traits. Since the abnormality of these structures were also observed in the clinical OCD, the subclinical subjects with OC traits shared "neuronal obsessive traits" that might precondition OCD at the network level.

Study protocol for a single-blind, randomised controlled, non-inferiority trial of internet-based versus face-to-face cognitive behaviour therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder

INTRODUCTION

Expert guidelines recommend cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) as a first-line treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but the majority of patients with OCD do not have access to CBT. Internet-delivered CBT (ICBT) has the potential to make this evidence-based treatment more accessible while requiring less therapist time than traditional face-to-face (f2f) CBT. Data from six clinical trials suggest that ICBT for OCD is both efficacious and cost-effective, but whether ICBT is non-inferior to traditional f2f CBT for OCD is yet unknown.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A single-blind, randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial comparing therapist-guided ICBT, unguided ICBT and individual (f2f) CBT for adult OCD patients. The primary objective is to investigate whether ICBT is non-inferior to gold standard f2f CBT. Secondary objectives are to investigate if ICBT is equally effective when delivered unguided, to establish the cost-effectiveness of ICBT and to investigate if the treatment outcome differs between self-referred and clinically referred patients. Participants will be recruited at two specialist OCD clinics in Stockholm and also through online self-referral. Participants will be randomised to one of three treatment conditions: F2f CBT, ICBT with therapist support or unguided ICBT. The total number of participants will be 120, and masked assessments will be administered at baseline, biweekly during treatment, at post-treatment and at 3-month and 12-month follow-ups. The main outcome measure is the clinician-rated Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) at 3-month follow-up. The margin of non-inferiority is set to 3 points on the Y-BOCS using a 90% CI.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study has been approved by the Regional Ethics Board of Stockholm (REPN 2015/1099-31/2) and registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02541968). The study will be reported in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement for non-pharmacological trials. The results will be published in peer-reviewed academic journals and disseminated to patient organisations and media.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02541968; Pre-results.

A call for prevention and early intervention in obsessive-compulsive disorder

BACKGROUND

Evidence suggests that many people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have subclinical symptoms years before the development of their disorder and that early treatment may reduce its severity.

AIM

To explore prevention and early intervention strategies for OCD.

METHODS

A narrative literature review was conducted.

RESULTS

The literature in relation to the prevention of OCD is sparse. Genetic and environmental factors appear to be relevant to the aetiology of OCD, for example, the observation that hoarding symptoms and contamination/cleaning symptoms are more likely to also be present in first-degree relatives. Psychoeducation and the reduction of family accommodation, that is the act of parents, siblings or partners accommodating to the high-risk individual's requests to comply with their compulsions, are promising areas for prevention and early intervention in high-risk groups. Tertiary prevention has also been limited by an inadequate number of trained clinicians to deliver evidence-based treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Much more research is needed in relation to the prevention of OCD. There is limited scope for primary prevention with respect to biological aetiological factors, but there is potential for strategies addressing environmental factors (eg, family factors). The effectiveness of psychoeducation for parents with OCD as a primary prevention strategy for OCD in their children requires scientific evaluation. Improving access to effective treatments for OCD would also improve tertiary prevention.

Examining the role of sex differences in obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a notably heterogeneous disorder. As such, there has been increased interest in subtyping OCD into homogeneous entities using biological characteristics such as sex. Whereas there is large consensus in the literature regarding sex differences in the phenotypic expression of OCD, there are numerous disadvantages to how OCD has been previously measured and assessed. The present investigation explored potential sex differences in OCD symptoms using the Dimensional Obsessive Compulsive Scale (DOCS), a redesigned measure that more reliably assesses the four most commonly replicated OCD symptom dimensions. A large sample of community participants with elevated levels of OCD symptoms (N = 297) was recruited from an online crowdsourcing marketplace. Surprisingly, no differences in means were observed across sexes. However, results did reveal sex differences when examining relations between OCD dimensions. In particular, correlations between the OCD symptom dimensions were stronger in males compared to females. The common perception of OCD as a heterogeneous disorder may hold for females more so than for males. Future research should seek to replicate these findings using multimethod approaches including clinical, behavioral, and neuroimaging assessments.

Low frequency fluctuation of brain spontaneous activity and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in a large school-age sample

BACKGROUND

The present study was designed to explore alterations in brain dynamics at rest that are associated with Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms (OCS) in childhood by measuring low frequency fluctuation of spontaneous brain activity in a large school community sample from a developing country.

METHOD

Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected in a sample of 655 children and adolescents (6-15 years old) from the brazilian 'High Risk Cohort Study for Psychiatric Disorders (HRC)'. OCS were assessed using items from the Compulsion and Obsessions section of the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA). The correlation between the fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and the number of OCS were explored by using a general linear model, considering fALFF as response variable, OCS score as regressor and age, gender and site as nuisance variables.

RESULTS

The number of OCS was positively correlated with the fALFF coefficients at the right sensorimotor cortex (pre-motor, primary motor cortex and post-central gyrus) and negatively correlated with the fALFF coefficients at the insula/superior temporal gyrus of both hemispheres. Our results were specific to OCS and not due to associations with overall psychopathology.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that brain spontaneous activity at rest in the sensorimotor and insular/superior-temporal cortices may be involved in OCS in children. These findings need independent replication and future studies should determine whether brain spontaneous activity changes within these regions might be predictors of risk for obsessive-compulsive disorder latter in life.

Three Approaches to Understanding and Classifying Mental Disorder: ICD-11, DSM-5, and the National Institute of Mental Health’s Research Domain Criteria (RDoC)

The diagnosis of mental disorder initially appears relatively straightforward: Patients present with symptoms or visible signs of illness; health professionals make diagnoses based primarily on these symptoms and signs; and they prescribe medication, psychotherapy, or both, accordingly. However, despite a dramatic expansion of knowledge about mental disorders during the past half century, understanding of their components and processes remains rudimentary. We provide histories and descriptions of three systems with different purposes relevant to understanding and classifying mental disorder. Two major diagnostic manuals—the International Classification of Diseases and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—provide classification systems relevant to public health, clinical diagnosis, service provision, and specific research applications, the former internationally and the latter primarily for the United States. In contrast, the National Institute of Mental Health’s Research Domain Criteria provides a framework that emphasizes integration of basic behavioral and neuroscience research to deepen the understanding of mental disorder. We identify four key issues that present challenges to understanding and classifying mental disorder: etiology, including the multiple causality of mental disorder; whether the relevant phenomena are discrete categories or dimensions; thresholds, which set the boundaries between disorder and nondisorder; and comorbidity, the fact that individuals with mental illness often meet diagnostic requirements for multiple conditions. We discuss how the three systems’ approaches to these key issues correspond or diverge as a result of their different histories, purposes, and constituencies. Although the systems have varying degrees of overlap and distinguishing features, they share the goal of reducing the burden of suffering due to mental disorder.

Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance of the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory – Child Version (OCI-CV) in General Population

Abstract. Evidence-based assessment is necessary as a first step for developing psychopathological studies and assessing the effectiveness of empirically validated treatments. There are several measures of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and/or symptomatology in children and adolescents, but all of them present some limitations. The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R) by Foa and her colleagues has showed to be a good self-report measure to capture the dimensionality of OCD in adults and adolescents. The child version of the OCI (OCI-CV) was validated for clinical children and adolescents in 2010, showing excellent psychometric properties. The objective of this study was to examine the factor structure and invariance of the OCI-CV in the general population. Results showed a six-factor structure with one second-order factor, good consistency values, and invariance across region, age, and sex. The OCI-CV is an excellent inventory for assessing the dimensions of OCD symptomatology in general populations of children and adolescents. The invariance across sex and age warrants its utilization for research purposes.