The association of schizophrenia symptoms clusters with obsessive compulsive symptoms

Introduction Thirty percent of individuals with schizophrenia demonstrate obsessive compulsive symptoms (OCSs). There is conflicting data on the effects of antipsychotic medication on OCSs in schizophrenia. The delineation of the relationship of OCSs with positive, negative and general psychopathology symptoms has theoretical and treatment implications. Objectives To investigate the relationship among OCSs with the symptoms clusters in schizophrenia. Methods We recruited 110 chronic schizophrenia patients and assessed OCSs (Yale-Brown Scale) and schizophrenia symptoms (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale). In order to investigate the relationship of OCSs with clusters of schizophrenia symptoms, we conducted correlation analyses between YBOCS total scores or obsession or compulsion subscores with the PANSS symptoms scores (total, positive, negative and general psychopathology) and the cognitive scores derived from CANTAB. We re-conducted these correlations for the sub groups with clinically detectable OCSs (YBOCS u003e 8) and clinically significant OCSs (YBOCS u003e 14). Results The only significant correlation was that of scores of OCSs with PANSS general psychopathology scores (rho = 0.190, P  = 0.047). Obsessions and compulsions did not significantly correlate with positive or negative symptom clusters. No significant correlation between OCSs and schizophrenia symptoms were detected in the subgroups with clinically detectable or significant OCSs. Conclusions OCSs appear to be a separate symptom cluster in the context of schizophrenia, suggesting that OCSs cannot be expected to be influenced by standard antipsychotic treatments.