OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER IN PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA OR SCHIZOAFFECTIVE DISORDER

Objective: The authors evaluated the frequency of DSM-III-R obsessive- compulsive disorder in patients with a primary diagnosis of schizophre nia or schizoaffective disorder. Method: Patients with schizophrenia ( N=52) or schizoaffective disorder (N=25) were evaluated for the presen ce of obsessions and compulsions by means of the Structured Clinical I nterview for DSM-III-R, the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, cha rt review, and contact with the treating clinicians. Results: Six (7.8 %) of the 77 patients met the DSM-III-R criteria for both obsessive-co mpulsive disorder and schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Concl usions: These findings suggest that obsessive-compulsive disorder occu rs in a substantial percentage of patients with schizophrenia or schiz oaffective disorder. The addition of medications targeted at obsessive -compulsive disorder may be beneficial to these patients but requires systematic evaluation.