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Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Schizophrenia: an Up-To-Date Review of Literature

  • Anxiety Disorders (A Pelissolo, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review will aim to summarize the current body of epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic knowledge concerning specific co-occurrence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCSs) and schizophrenia spectrum disorder.

Recent Findings

Almost 30% of the patients with schizophrenia display OCS, and three main contexts of emergence are identified: prodromal symptoms of schizophrenia, co-occurrence of OCS and schizophrenia and antipsychotics-induced OCS. Recent clinical studies show that patients with SZ and OCS have more severe psychotic and depressive symptoms, higher suicidality and lower social functioning. A recent cognitive investigation found that OCS and delusions share specific metacognitive profiles, particularly through a heightened need to control thoughts. Finally, a recent cross-sectional study of clozapine-induced OCS found a dose-response relationship between clozapine and OCS.

Summary

OCS appeared reliably as linked to poorer outcomes among patients with schizophrenia. However, the specific clinical value of OCS among other prodromal symptoms of schizophrenia remains unknown.

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Correspondence to Baptiste Pignon.

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Chloé Tezenas du Montcel, Franck Schürhoff, and Baptiste Pignon each declare no potential conflicts of interest.

Antoine Pelissolo is a section editor for Current Psychiatry Reports.

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The editors would like to thank Dr. Mathieu Urbach for taking the time to review this manuscript.

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Tezenas du Montcel, C., Pelissolo, A., Schürhoff, F. et al. Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Schizophrenia: an Up-To-Date Review of Literature. Curr Psychiatry Rep 21, 64 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1051-y

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