Psychopharmacological treatment differences in autogenous and reactive obsessions: A retrospective chart review

Comparison of autogenous and reactive type obsessive-compulsive disorders in terms of clinical characteristics: A meta-analysis study

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been divided into two subgroups autogenous and reactive types, based on obsessive symptoms. To our knowledge, no meta-analysis study compares sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Investigation of the differences between the two groups in terms of these basic characteristics may provide information about the accuracy of this classification. This is the first meta-analysis to examine gender, age at onset and some clinical differences between patients with autogenous and reactive OCD. Electronic bibliographic databases of Scopus and PubMed were searched up to March 2024. Random effect models were conducted for this meta-analysis. The analysis was carried out using the standardized mean difference as the outcome measure. Publication bias was evaluated using the Begg and Eggers funnel plot, and fail-safe N calculation using the Rosenthal approach. The current meta-analysis summarizes the data from primary studies comparing the gender rates, age at onset of OCD, severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and severity of depression and anxiety symptoms between autogenous and reactive types of OCD. The results of this study showed that the rate of male gender was higher in the autogenous type OCD. In addition, increased severity of anxiety, and depression were associated with autogenous type OCD. There was no significant difference between groups regarding the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Age of OCD onset findings were insignificant, but excluding an outlier study suggested earlier onset in autogenous type OCD. These results support the distinction between autogenous and reactive type OCD.

Neural substrates for dissociation of cognition inhibition in autogenous- and reactive-type obsessive-compulsive disorder

BACKGROUND

The taxonomy of autogenous- and reactive-type obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) (AO vs. RO) is one of the most valid subtyping approaches to the heterogeneity of OCD. The present study aimed to seek evidence of neural substrates supporting the dissociation of cognition inhibition in AO and RO which was revealed by our previous behavioral and electrophysiological work.

METHODS

A total of 165 patients with OCD (86 AO versus 79 RO), and 79 healthy controls (HC) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans. Within-network connectivity, node strength, and edge-wise functional connectivity (FC) in cognition and response inhibition networks were calculated. Results from 3 cognition and 2 response inhibition network atlases were compared to confirm the robustness of the findings.

RESULTS

Both AO and RO showed lower within-network connectivity in response inhibition networks, while lower within cognition inhibition network connectivity was only detected in AO. Besides shared weaker node strength in the anterior insula (AI), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and supplementary motor area (SMA), AO had a broader range of nodes within cognition inhibition networks exhibiting weaker strength, including nodes in right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), left parietal and occipital regions. Decreased FC of left AI-CC, left IFG-ACC, and frontal-parietal regions in cognition inhibition networks were found in AO.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings indicate that unlike deficits in connectivity within response inhibition networks which may reflect a common pathology in AO and RO, deficits in connectivity within cognition inhibition networks were more pronounced in AO. These findings strengthen our insight into the heterogeneity in OCD.

Are there differences in oxidative stress and inflammatory processes between the autogenous and reactive subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder? A controlled cross-sectional study

Objective:

To date, no study has investigated whether autogenous and reactive obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) types are different entities in terms of oxidative stress and inflammatory processes. The aim of this study is to compare them in terms of these features.

Methods:

The study was conducted in subjects with reactive OCD (n=19), autogenous OCD (n=14), and a control group (n=17). All participants were non-smokers. Sociodemographic data were collected and the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ), and Overvalued Ideas Scale (OVIS) were administered. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), paraoxonase (PON1), total oxidant status (TOS), and total antioxidant status (TAS) were measured.

Results:

There were no significant differences in TAS, TOS, or oxidative stress index (OSI) between the OCD and control groups. PON1 and hs-CRP levels were higher in the OCD group, whereas IL-6 and IL-10 levels were lower. Comparison across the three groups revealed no differences in TAS, TOS, OSI, or PON1 levels; however, hs-CRP was significantly higher while IL-6 and IL-10 were significantly lower in the reactive group compared to controls.

Conclusion:

Our results show that, although inflammatory processes may play a role in OCD, the autogenous and reactive subtypes do not differ from each other in these respects. The classification of OCD into autogenous and reactive subtypes should be reevaluated.

Differences between autogenous and reactive obsessions in terms of metacognitions and automatic thoughts

BACKGROUND

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions have been classified as autogenous obsessions and reactive obsessions on the basis of the cognitive theory of Lee and Kwon. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences between autogenous groups (AG) and reactive groups (RG) in terms of metacognition and automatic thoughts, for the purpose of investigating the differences of cognitive appraisals.

METHODS

One hundred and thirty-three patients diagnosed with OCD were included in the study as the patient group. A control group was formed of 133 age, gender and education-matched healthy individuals. The OCD group patients were separated into subgroups according to the primary obsessions. The sociodemographic data, and the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30), Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scores of the AG, RG, and control groups were compared.

RESULTS

The MCQ-30 (total) and the subscales of MCQ-30 and ATQ scale points were seen to be significantly higher in the AG than in the RG and significantly higher in the RG than in the control group. In the reactive obsession group, the predictive variables of the ATQ points were determined to be MCQ-30 (total), BDI and BAI. In the autogenous obsession group, the predictive variables of the ATQ points were determined to be BDI and BAI.

CONCLUSION

In the current study, differences were determined between the AG and the RG in respect of metacognitions and automatic thoughts. In light of these results, the recommended grouping can be considered useful in the identification of OCD sub-types. There is a need for further studies to identify more homogenous sub-types of OCD. Future multi-centered studies of sub-typing with larger samples using more specific instruments to sub-type and dimensional evaluation will be useful for detailed evaluation and better understanding of the subject.