MedWorm: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Scrupulosity in islam: a comparison of highly religious Turkish and canadian samples.

Behavior Therapy — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:42:36 +0100

Authors: Inozu M, Clark DA, Karanci AN Abstract Scrupulosity is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) characterized by a tendency to have persistent doubts about God, sin, and the adequacy of one's religious behaviors and devotion. To date, no published studies have compared scrupulosity in high- and low-religious Muslim and Christian samples. In the present study religious school students as well as high- and low-religious university students in Turkey and Canada were compared on the Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity (PIOS), Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ-44), and symptom measures of obssesionality and negative affect. Between-group comparisons revealed that the highly religious Turkish sample scored significantly higher than the highly religious Canadian students on th...

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Nurse Debbie Thomson tells how she overcame battle with 'taboo' OCD

the Mail online | Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:41:14 +0100

Debbie Thompson, 31, from Hull , said her obsessive compulsive disorder got so bad after the birth of her daughter she even considered committing suicide. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder [Letters]

JAMA — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: JAMA)

Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder--Reply [Letters]

JAMA — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: JAMA)

The Nature, Assessment, and Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Postgraduate Medicine Online — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:18:19 +0100

This article provides an introduction to the phenomenology, etiology, and clinical course of OCD. Assessment practices used to evaluate symptom severity are described, and evidence-based treatment options are reviewed, with appropriate distinctions drawn between children and adults. Finally, recommendations for assessment and treatment practices for OCD are explicated. Keywords: obsessive-compulsive disorder; assessment; treatment; phenomenology; etiology read more (Source: Postgraduate Medicine Online)

Predictors of Patient Adherence to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:00:00 +0100

Psychother Psychosom 2012;81:124–126 (DOI:10.1159/000330214) (Source: Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics)

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Deep brain stimulation: What can patients expect from it?

Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Deep brain stimulation has largely replaced ablative procedures for the treatment of advanced Parkinson disease, essential tremor, and dystonia. It is also approved for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Although not curative, it improves symptoms and quality of life. (Source: Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine)

Evidence for fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity white matter abnormalities in the internal capsule and cingulum in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

J Psychiatry Neurosc... — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: The study results provide further evidence for OCD-related white matter abnormalities in the ALIC and cingulum, consistent with a cortico striatal model of OCD. PMID: 22297066 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: J Psychiatry Neurosc...)

Abnormal repetitive behaviours: shared phenomenology and pathophysiology

Journal of Intellectual Disability Research — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions We can use available information from clinical and animal models to make more precise hypotheses regarding the particular pathophysiology driving SIB. The results of testing such hypotheses should generate pharmacological strategies that may prove efficacious in reducing SIB. (Source: Journal of Intellectual Disability Research)

OCD - MEDLINE Plus

About.com Mental Health — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The National Library of Medicine has compiled these resources on the subject of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). (Source: About.com Mental Health)

Reasoning bias and belief conviction in obsessive-compulsive disorder and delusions: Jumping to conclusions across disorders?

The British Journal of Clinical Psychology — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:42:33 +0100

Conclusions. JTC is associated with delusions but not high-conviction beliefs in OCD. The cognitive processes associated with high-conviction beliefs in OCD and psychosis may not be trans-diagnostic. This is consistent with the view that high-conviction OCD should not be classified as a psychotic disorder. PMID: 22268543 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The British Journal of Clinical Psychology)

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Preschool children with obsessive–compulsive disorder and fluoxetine treatment

European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:32:13 +0100

Abstract Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder which can substantially disable children’s ability to function at home and school. Clinicians frequently rely on knowledge about symptoms that can be examined early in treatment to determine future treatment effectiveness. However, OCD in preschoolers has also received little attention in literature. To the best of our knowledge, there is only one retrospective chart review and one case report in the literature for preschool cases treated with SSRIs. Therefore, the effect of fluoxetine on preschool children was imprecisely understood. The aim of this case report was to examine the efficacy and safety of fluoxetine treatment for pediatric OCD. Four preschool children with OCD completed an 8-week fluoxet...

Design of a multicentered randomized controlled trial on the clinical and cost effectiveness of schema therapy for personality disorders

BMC Public Health - Latest articles — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This study is registered at the Dutch Trial Register NTR566. (Source: BMC Public Health - Latest articles)

Is attention to detail a similarly strong candidate endophenotype for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa?

The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions. Attention to detail is a stronger candidate endophenotype of AN compared to BN, where poor global integration may be more relevant. The unique contribution of both aspects of weak coherence (superior attention to detail/poor global integration) requires further exploration and understanding in both eating disorders. Integrating cognitive remediation of these traits into treatment for the subset of patients it is relevant for may improve outcome. PMID: 22263673 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry)

Can We Prevent Postpartum Depression?

Psychology Today Depression Center — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:31:03 +0100

Most women who experience postpartum depression, at some point or another, wonder, why did this happen? Our best answer to this is that a number of factors combine to put a woman at risk for depression after childbirth, some of which are hormonal, biologic, genetic, environmental and psychological.read more (Source: Psychology Today Depression Center)

Informed consent for clinical trials of deep brain stimulation in psychiatric disease: challenges and implications for trial design

Journal of Medical Ethics — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Advances in neuromodulation and an improved understanding of the anatomy and circuitry of psychopathology have led to a resurgence of interest in surgery for psychiatric disease. Clinical trials exploring deep brain stimulation (DBS), a focally targeted, adjustable and reversible form of neurosurgery, are being developed to address the use of this technology in highly selected patient populations. Psychiatric patients deemed eligible for surgical intervention, such as DBS, typically meet stringent inclusion criteria, including demonstrated severity, chronicity and a failure of conventional therapy. Although a humanitarian device exemption by the US Food and Drug Administration exists for its use in obsessive-compulsive disorder, DBS remains a largely experimental treatment in the psychiatr...

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[The decision-making process in obsessive compulsive disorder].

Tijdschrift voor Psychiatrie — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:18:02 +0100

Authors: Vandenbroucke CL, Gabriels L Abstract Summary background The extremely intrusive and repetitive nature of the symptoms of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd) is suggestive of abnormalities in the decision-making process. This could explain why such patients realise how exaggerated and unreasonable their symptoms are, but time after time they become entrapped by them. aim To review the available research results relating to the underlying mechanisms of decision making and to link these to the characteristics of ocd. <span class="abbreviation s...

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in psychiatry

Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Biswa Ranjan Mishra, Sukanto Sarkar, Samir Kumar Praharaj, Varun S Mehta, Shreyansh Diwedi, S Haque NizamieAnnals of Indian Academy of Neurology 2011 14(4):245-251Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive and relatively painless tool that has been used to study various cognitive functions as well as to understand the brain-behavior relationship in normal individuals as well as in those with various neuropsychiatric disorders. It has also been used as a therapeutic tool in various neuropsychiatric disorders because of its ability to specifically modulate distinct brain areas. Studies have shown that repeated stimulation at low frequency produces long-lasting inhibition, which is called as long-term depression, whereas repeated high-frequency stimulation can produ...

Adjunctive cognitive behavioural therapy improves response in children with OCD and partial response to serotonin reuptake inhibitors

Evidence-Based Mental Health — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

QuestionQuestion What are the effects of adding cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), brief CBT or instructions in CBT in children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and a partial response to serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRI)? Patients 124 paediatric outpatients between the ages of 7 and 17 with a primary DSM-IV diagnosis of OCD, and residual symptoms (Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS) score of ≥16), and were defined as having a partial response to an adequate SRI trial by a study psychiatrist. Setting Three US academic medical centres (University of Pennsylvania, Duke University and Brown University); from 2004 to 2009. Intervention Adjunctive CBT or instructions in CBT or no adjunctive treatment over 12 weeks. All participants received medication manage...

NAC or N-acetyl L-cysteine for OCD?

Dr. Weil Q and A — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:12:22 +0100

Have you been following the studies on the use of NAC for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and alcoholism? (Source: Dr. Weil Q and A)

Sexual Orientation Compulsions in OCD

Psychology Today Anxiety Center — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:30:08 +0100

What would you do if you thought you were becoming gay? Some people worry that their sex lives may suddenly be replaced with something unappealing and foreign. OCD can cause doubts about sexual orientation and hidden behaviors that don't make sense.read more (Source: Psychology Today Anxiety Center)

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Differentiating PANDAS and non-PANDAS disorders

The Journal of Pediatrics — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:25:08 +0100

Not unlike autism spectrum disorder (ASD), more cases of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and/or tic disorders are being diagnosed in prepubertal children. Also, not unlike ASD, the cause of most cases is unclear. Frustrated families seeking answers frequently think we don't care. We care. We just do not have the answers. Much debate has focused on the purported role of group A streptococcus (GAS) in causing or precipitating the so-called Pediatric Autoimmume Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections (PANDAS). Using objective criteria to define at least the most typical clinical constellation could benefit future investigations of etiology, natural history, and management. (Source: The Journal of Pediatrics)

Quality of life and psychological outcome of donors after living donor liver transplantation.

World Journal of Gastroenterology : WJG — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: HRQoL and psychological outcome were favorable in living liver transplant donors after donation. Specifically, gender, age, time since operation, recipient health condition, and employment after donation, influenced postoperative quality of life. PMID: 22253525 [PubMed - in process] (Source: World Journal of Gastroenterology : WJG)

Could Internet Addiction Disrupt Brain's Connections?

MedlinePlus Health News — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Small Chinese study found abnormalities in white matter in brains of teenage Web junkies Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Pages: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Teen Mental Health (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Endocannabinoid analogues exacerbate marble-burying behavior in mice via TRPV1 receptor.

Neuropharmacology — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Umathe SN, Manna SS, Jain NS Abstract Activation of cannabinoid CB(1) receptor is shown to inhibit marble-burying behavior (MBB), a behavioral model for assessing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Anandamide, an endogenous agonist at CB(1) receptor also activates the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) channels but at a higher concentration. Furthermore, anandamide-mediated TRPV1 effects are opposite to that of the CB(1) receptor. Therefore, the present study was carried out to investigate the influence of low and high doses of anandamide on MBB in CB(1) and TRPV1 antagonist pre-treated mice. The results revealed that i.c.v. administration of lower doses of anandamide (1-10μg/mouse) or its analogues (AM404 or URB597; 1-5μg/mouse) inhibited MBB indic...

Treatment strategies of obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorder/agoraphobia.

Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:55:37 +0100

Authors: Marazziti D, Carlini M, Dell'osso L Abstract Anxiety disorders represent the most prevalent psychiatric disorders. In addition, a considerable burden is associated with them, not only for individual sufferers, but also for the health care system. However, many patients who might benefit from treatment are not diagnosed or treated. This may partly be due to lack of awareness of the anxiety disorders by primary care practitioners and by the sufferers themselves. In addition, the stigma still associated with psychiatric disorders and lack of confidence in psychiatric treatments are factors leading to no/under recognition and treatment, or the use of unnecessary or inappropriate treatments. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of recommendations for the pharmacolo...

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Errors in Text and Figure in: Efficacy and Comparative Effectiveness of Atypical Antipsychotic Medications for Off-Label Uses in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis [Correction]

JAMA — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: JAMA)

Sexual Orientation Obsessions and Suicidal Thoughts

Psychology Today Sex Center — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 14:17:41 +0100

What if your brain kept replaying images that you didn't want to see? What if it kept sending you conflicting messages about your sexuality? Would you want to die? Some people do. New research describes the startling connection between OCD, sexual-orientation worries, and suicidal thoughts. read more (Source: Psychology Today Sex Center)

Larger than life: Overestimation of object size is moderated by personal relevance in obsessive-compulsive disorder. - Moritz S, Alpers GW, Schilling L, Jelinek L, Brooks A, Willenborg B, Nagel M.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:21:09 +0100

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Along with other cognitive biases overestimation of threat (OET) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The present study investigated whether OET would not only manifest in cognitive dist... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

The Obsessive Compulsive Cocaine Scale: Assessment of factor structure, reliability, and validity. - Jardin BF, LaRowe SD, Hall BJ, Malcolm RJ.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:21:09 +0100

The present study assessed the factor structure, reliability, test retest, convergent validity, and predictive validity of the Obsessive Compulsive Cocaine Scale (OCCS), a newly developed questionnaire adapted from the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

The Obsessive Compulsive Cocaine Use Scale: Development and initial validation of a self-rated instrument for the quantification of thoughts about cocaine use. - Hormes JM, Coffey SF, Drobes DJ, Saladin ME.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:21:09 +0100

BACKGROUND: Craving is a hallmark of addiction and characterized by obsessive thoughts about, and compulsive urges to use, a substance. While craving is frequently thought of as primarily being a feature of acute withdrawal, there is evidence to suggest th... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

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Obsessive compulsive disorder and psychopathic behaviour in Babylon

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions The Babylonians had no understanding of brain or psychological function but they were remarkable describers of medical disease and behaviour. Although they had both physical and supernatural theories of many medical disorders and behaviours, they had an open mind on these particular behaviours which they regarded as a ‘mystery’ yet to be ‘resolved’. We are not aware of comparable accounts of these behaviours in ancient Egyptian or classical medicine. These Babylonian descriptions extend the history of these disorders to the first half of the second millennium BC. (Source: Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry)

RhoBTB3 interacts with the 5-HT7a receptor and inhibits its proteasomal degradation.

Cellular Signalling — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Matthys A, Van Craenenbroeck K, Lintermans B, Haegeman G, Vanhoenacker P Abstract The 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)7 receptor is the most recently identified serotonin receptor and is involved in a wide variety of central nervous system (CNS) functions, namely circadian rhythm, REM sleep, depression, thermoregulation, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, schizophrenia, epilepsy, nociception, migraine, sensation-seeking behavior, impulsivity, learning and memory. These numerous (patho)physiological processes of the CNS, in which the 5-HT7 receptor is involved, most likely reflect a diverse set of signaling pathways arising from this receptor. In order to reveal new interaction partners and possibly new signaling and/or trafficking pathways, we performed a yeast two-hy...

Sexual Orientation Obsessions in OCD

Psychology Today Anxiety Center — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:19:36 +0100

"What if I've been gay all along and don't know it?" Sexual orientation worries are an underrecognized symptom of OCD that can cause distressing obsessions and covert compulsions. This puzzling form of OCD has been known to confuse patients and professionals alike, and sufferers struggle to find answers.read more (Source: Psychology Today Anxiety Center)

OCD: Treatment for Contamination Fears

Psych Central — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:14:48 +0100

Before discussing currently accepted treatments for contamination obssessive-compulsive (OC) disorder, let’s cover treatments that should be avoided (but unfortunately are still used by some providers). These treatments may be helpful for other problems, but the weight of evidence suggests that for contamination OC (and other forms of OCD), these should be avoided. Systematic desensitization: The functional component of this treatment involves relaxation in association with feared images and objects. Although this approach is of some value for other anxiety conditions, it is not advisable for contamination OC. One of the clearest reasons is that most people receiving this treatment find they cannot engage in relaxation exercises when they are ‘in the moment’ of their co...

OCD: Symptoms of Contamination Fears

Psych Central — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:40:59 +0100

The most common association regarding people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are that these people are primarily concerned with germs and becoming ‘contaminated.’ This is the one variant of OCD that receives the most publicity, and optimistically, it is also among the most ‘treatable’ forms of OCD. Most of the early studies on treatment for OCD focused on people struggling with contamination fears. Despite this early focus in the research literature, some continue to struggle following treatment, or fail to respond altogether. It has been my experience that there are some factors that weigh heavily in whether one successfully recovers from contamination OC. Among these factors are: 1) extent that others assume ‘responsibility’ for cleanliness,...

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Error-related negativity in individuals with obsessive-compulsive symptoms: Toward an understanding of hoarding behaviors.

Biological Psychology — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Mathews CA, Perez VB, Delucchi KL, Mathalon DH Abstract The error-related negativity (ERN), an event-related potential component elicited by error responses in cognitive tasks, has been shown to be abnormal in most, but not all, studies of obsessive-compulsive disorder or obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCD/S); these inconsistencies may be due to task selection, symptom subtype, or both. We used meta-analysis to further characterize the ERN in OCD/S, and pooled data across studies to examine the ERN in OCD/S with hoarding. We found an enhanced ERN in OCD/S relative to controls, as well as heterogeneity across tasks. When stratified, OCD/S showed a significantly enhanced ERN only in response conflict tasks. However, OCD/S+hoarding showed a marginally larger ERN than OCD/S-ho...

Should Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Be a Putative Obsessive-Compulsive-Related Condition? A Critical Appraisal. - McKay D, Andover M.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 12:07:07 +0100

Rituals in childhood may predict later OCD

Modern Medicine Contemporary Pediatrics — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Exaggerated rituals and sensory hypersensitivities in a child may be early warning signs of adult obsessive-compulsive disorder. (Source: Modern Medicine Contemporary Pediatrics)

OCD in Adulthood Traced to Cues in Childhood (CME/CE)

MedPage Today Pediatrics — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 03:13:10 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- Rituals and sensory hypersensitivities in a child may be early warning signs of adult obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), according to the results of two studies from Israel. (Source: MedPage Today Pediatrics)

Coercive and disruptive behaviors in pediatric obsessive compulsive disorder: a qualitative analysis. - Lebowitz ER, Vitulano LA, Omer H.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 04:51:29 +0100

OCD is a common disorder in children and adolescents. Disruptive or coercive behaviors among children with OCD have not been a focus of much research until recently. Family accommodation of OCD is strongly related to symptom severity, level of impairment, ... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

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Switch to another drug or try adjunctive therapy in patients with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder

Drugs — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:06:25 +0100

(Source: Drugs)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and the “Root of the Problem”

Psychology Today Anxiety Center — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:55:52 +0100

What caused my OCD? Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is often shrouded in mystery, as sufferers struggle to understand the cause of their disorder. Already prone to "over-thinking," many believe that if they can determine what caused their brain to go awry, they can figure out a way to fix it. People with OCD have been known to spend hours ruminating to find "the root of the problem." Primary Topic: Anxiety read more (Source: Psychology Today Anxiety Center)

The Obsessive Compulsive Cocaine Use Scale: Development and initial validation of a self-rated instrument for the quantification of thoughts about cocaine use

Drug and Alcohol Dependence — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:12:11 +0100

Conclusion: The proposed measure is a promising step towards the successful capture of the long-term cognitive features of craving for cocaine via self-report, and should represent a useful tool for clinical and research use. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Craving and illicit heroin use among patients in heroin-assisted treatment

Drug and Alcohol Dependence — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:10:10 +0100

Conclusions: Heroin craving and illicit heroin use were significantly associated and both strongly decreased in HAT but not in MMT. Craving was not related to multi-domain treatment response and illicit heroin use was marginally related to treatment response in MMT, but not in HAT. The latter was probably due to the strong reduction in illicit heroin use in most patients in HAT and the small sample size of the sub-study. It is hypothesized that the strong reductions in craving for heroin in HAT are related to the stable availability of prescribed, pharmaceutical grade heroin. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Strep-OCD link in children again makes the news

Modern Medicine — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Testing for streptococcal infections in children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) remains controversial. There is some evidence that Streptococcus is linked to the sudden onset of OCD symptoms and that antibiotics appear to resolve the neurologic problems associated with OCD, but experts are divided about when to test children with sudden OCD for strep and whether to treat them with antibiotics and for how long. New investigations now are underway. (Source: Modern Medicine)

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Avoidance in OCD: It’s Never the Answer

Psych Central — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:27:47 +0100

One of the common ways that people deal with anxiety is through avoidance. Afraid to fly? Well then, don’t. A large crowd of people too much to deal with? Just stay away from parties or large gatherings. Too anxious to ever give a presentation? Don’t apply for that job you’d otherwise love. So what’s the problem? In isolated instances, avoidance may work. But as Dr. Charles Elliott, a clinical psychologist and a Founding Fellow in the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, says in reference to this behavior: “It makes your world smaller and fosters your fears. The more you avoid, the worse things get.” I believe this is especially true when talking about avoidance and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. OCD is characterized by unreasonable thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead the suf...

Coexisting Psychiatric Problems and Stressful Life Events in Adults With Symptoms of ADHD--A Large Swedish Population-Based Study of Twins

Journal of Attention Disorders — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Both women and men with ADHD are at increased risk for symptoms of other psychiatric disorders. They are also at increased risk for stressful life events. (Source: Journal of Attention Disorders)

Efficacy of exposure versus cognitive therapy in anxiety disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis

BMC Psychiatry - Latest articles — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: On the basis of extant literature, there appears to be no evidence of differential efficacy between Cognitive Therapy and Exposure in PD, PTSD and OCD and strong evidence of superior efficacy of Cognitive Therapy in Social Phobia (Source: BMC Psychiatry - Latest articles)

Scrupulosity and OCD

About.com Obsessive Compulsive Disorder — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

In this study, 72 individuals with scrupulous OCD and 72 individuals with non-scrupulous OCD completed an online survey. Overall, the investigators found that severity of symptoms was equal across the two groups. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the individuals with scrupulous OCD were more religious, more likely to seek pastoral counseling, less likely to seek medication treatment, and more likely to report that symptoms interfered with their religious experience. Among individuals with scrupulous OCD, the more negative the concept of God held by the individual, the more severe their symptoms. Interestingly, about 20% of the sample with scrupulous OCD did not report any specific religious affiliation....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

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Auditory novelty processing is enhanced in obsessive-compulsive disorder. - Ischebeck M, Endrass T, Simon D, Kathmann N.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:35:12 +0100

In this study, it was analyzed whether patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) show enhanced responses of ... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

Treatment practices in Tourette syndrome: The European perspective.

European Journal of Paediatric Neurology — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first large-scale survey on prescribing habits for the pharmacological management of Tourette syndrome in Europe. In general, dopamine blockers were widely used for tics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for depression, obsessive-compulsive symptoms and anxiety, and stimulants for attention-deficit hyperactivity symptoms, but there was high variation within these choices. Future studies need to target specific patient groups. PMID: 22178398 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Paediatric Neurology)

Evidence for Cortical Inhibitory and Excitatory Dysfunction in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Neuropsychopharmacology — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Margaret A Richter, Danilo R de Jesus, Sylco Hoppenbrouwers, Melissa Daigle, Jasna Deluce, Lakshmi N Ravindran, Paul B Fitzgerald & Zafiris J Daskalakis Keywords: neurophysiology; GABA; mood/anxiety/stress disorders; Glutamate; Cortical; TMS; Inhibition (Source: Neuropsychopharmacology)

Effects of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms on Neuropsychological Test Performance: Complicating an Already Complicated Story.

The Clinical Neuropsychologist — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Moritz S, Hottenrott B, Jelinek L, Brooks AM, Scheurich A Abstract Theoretical models of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) implicate neurocognitive dysfunction, particularly deficits in nonverbal memory and executive functioning, in the pathogenesis of the disorder. The opposite hypothesis (poor performance in neuropsychological test as an epiphenomenon of OCD symptoms) has rarely been contemplated although checking behavior, obsessional doubt, lack of motivation, and slowness as well as preoccupation with touching objects may result in secondary test impairment and mimic manifestations of neural dysfunction. A total of 60 patients with OCD and 30 healthy controls were tested with a multi-functional neuropsychological battery. At the end of the testing participants were ...

Does Strep Throat Trigger Serious Ills?

WSJ.com: Health — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:27:44 +0100

Researchers suspect that the same bacteria that cause strep throat may trigger a reaction that brings a sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder, tics and other neurological changes. (Source: WSJ.com: Health)

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[Schizophrenia or Frontotemporal Dementia in a Young Chinese Female: A purview of possible diagnoses].

Turkish Journal of Psychiatry — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:54:02 +0100

This report also highlights the importance of eliciting symptoms suggestive of an "organic" etiology, such as incontinence and disorientation. In addition, the usefulness of repeated imaging to show the rapidly progressive course of FTD has been illustrated. Other possible differential diagnoses of this patient are also discussed. PMID: 22143952 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Turkish Journal of Psychiatry)

[Comparing brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy findings of pediatric treatment-naive obsessive-compulsive disorder patients with healthy controls].

Turkish Journal of Psychiatry — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:54:02 +0100

CONCLUSION: We found significant metabolic alterations in the brain regions which were implicated in OCD pathophysiology. Lower NAA and Cho ratios in anterior cingulate cortex and lower NAA ratios in the left inferior fronyal gyrus containing lateral orbitofrontal cortex can be possibly related to higher activation in OCD patients. Also further studies of the occipital lobes and insula should be continued in OCD. PMID: 22143947 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Turkish Journal of Psychiatry)

Should Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Be a Putative Obsessive-Compulsive-Related Condition? A Critical Appraisal

Behavior Modification — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has many behavioral and cognitive features that would make it appear to be closely tied to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Obsessive-compulsive-related disorders (OCRDs) have been described in the literature as conditions that share a common phenomenology, neurobiology, and treatment response. The authors reviewed the literature describing the degree that NSSI is similar to, and distinct from, OCRDs based on these hypothesized common areas. They conclude with recommendations for conceptualization that draws partly from the OCRD literature and from cognitive-behavioral models of rumination. (Source: Behavior Modification)

The functional magnetic resonance imaging-based verbal fluency test in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Neurocase — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Woon FL, Allen MD, Miller CH, Hedges DW Abstract Clinical use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is limited by a relative absence of fMRI task development, standardization, and normative performance databases. We investigated the fMRI-based verbal fluency test (f-VFT) by quantitatively evaluating brain activation patterns in OCD participants (8 females and 4 males) compared with a normative database (16 females and 16 males). At the group level, OCD participants and references had highly similar activation in left-hemisphere language regions, including the precentral/premotor cortex, thalamus, basal ganglia, and inferior frontal gyrus/frontal operculum. At the interindividual level, however, the OCD group had highly varia...

Neurocognitive endophenotypes of impulsivity and compulsivity: towards dimensional psychiatry.

Trends Cogn Sci — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Robbins TW, Gillan CM, Smith DG, de Wit S, Ersche KD Abstract A key criticism of the main diagnostic tool in psychiatry, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM-IV), is that it lacks a biological footing. In this article, we argue for a biological approach to psychiatry based on 'neurocognitive endophenotypes', whereby changes in behavioural or cognitive processes are associated with discrete deficits in defined neural systems. We focus on the constructs of impulsivity and compulsivity as key examples of the approach and discuss their possible cross-diagnostic significance, applying them to co-morbidities and commonalities across a range of disorders (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, substance dependence, obsessive-compulsive disorder...

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Adding CBT to Medication Improves Outcomes in Pediatric OCD

About.com Obsessive Compulsive Disorder — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can be helpful in reducing the intensity and frequency of OCD symptoms in children, many cases of pediatric OCD are only partially responsive to medication. As such, a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association sought to examine whether adding CBT to standard medical treatment with SSRIs improved outcomes in individuals ages 7 to 17 with OCD. Using a randomized control design the investigators found that the addition of CBT to the standard medication protocol yielded a significantly better response rate than medication alone....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

A case of semantic variant primary progressive aphasia with severe insular atrophy.

Neurocase — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Chow TW, Links KA, Masterman DL, Mendez MF, Vinters HV Abstract Insular degeneration has been linked to symptoms of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Presented in this case is a patient exhibiting semantic variant primary progressive aphasia, behavioral disturbance. Upon autopsy, he was found to have severe insular atrophy. In addition, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were ineffective in reducing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive behaviors or emotional blunting. This case suggests that Seeley et al.'s (2007 , Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders, 21, S50) hypothesis that von Economo neurons and fork cell-rich brain regions, particularly in the insula, are targeted in additional subtypes of FTD beyond the behavioral variant. PMID: 22150361 [PubMed - as suppl...

Psychological symptom patterns and vital exhaustion in outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Annals of General Psychiatry — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Our findings suggest the high prevalence of VE, together with high rates in most of the SCL-90-R dimensions with greater depression, somatization, obsessive-compulsiveness and anxiety in a Greek COPD group at various Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) diagnostic criteria stages. The coexistence of such symptoms should be further assessed as an eventual unfavorable prognostic factor. (Source: Annals of General Psychiatry)

Variation in the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and response to cognitive-behavior therapy in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

European Psychiatry — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: Genetic variation in BDNF may be associated with treatment response in exposure-based CBT in OCD, especially in those patients exhibiting contamination/cleaning symptoms. PMID: 22153732 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Psychiatry)

Facial emotion recognition in Scottish prisoners.

International Journal of Law and Psychiatry — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Scottish convicted prisoners show deficits in recognising negative facial emotions in a pattern consistent with other antisocial populations. We also demonstrated a relationship between particular patterns of deficit and types of offending history not previously described. PMID: 22153834 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Law and Psychiatry)

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A neurocomputational approach to obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Trends Cogn Sci — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Maia TV, McClelland JL Abstract A recent article shows that a change in a single parameter in a neural-network model of brain dynamics leads to repetitive behaviors that resist termination and towards which the network tends. These findings may have implications for obsessive-compulsive disorder and are consistent with evidence of glutamatergic hyperactivity in this disorder. PMID: 22154352 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends Cogn Sci)

Childhood disorder prompts study of infection link to mental illness

Los Angeles Times - Science — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Cases of children suddenly exhibiting obsessive-compulsive disorder after strep has led to studies that reinforce the belief that some mental illnesses can be triggered by an immune response.Brody Kennedy was a typical sixth-grader who loved to hang out with friends in Castaic and play video games. A strep-throat infection in October caused him to miss a couple of days of school, but he was eager to rejoin his classmates, recalls his mother, Tracy. (Source: Los Angeles Times - Science)

Reinforcement Learning and Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome: Dissociation of Clinical Phenotypes and Pharmacological Treatments [Original Article]

Archives of General Psychiatry — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions These results support the hypothesized correspondence between clinical phenotypes and frontal cortex–basal ganglia circuits. Antipsychotic treatment effects comply with formal conceptions that dopamine serves as a teaching signal for reinforcement learning. Furthermore, we suggest that, unlike typical antipsychotics, aripiprazole may preserve reward sensitivity and hence avoid blunting motivational drives. (Source: Archives of General Psychiatry)

Alliance-focused therapy for anorexia nervosa: Integrative relational and behavioral change treatments in a single-case experimental design.

Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

This study provides preliminary support for the feasibility and effect of AFT and BCT, and highlights the importance of the alliance in treating adults with AN. Further research on emotion regulation in AN and its effect on the treatment relationship are needed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training)

Computer Game "Ricky And The Spider" To Help Children With Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Health News from Medical News Today — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 08:00:00 +0100

About two percent of all children suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which consists of obsessive thoughts and acts. Obsessive thoughts are intrusive thoughts such as fear or contamination, injury or violent notions that are perceived to be pointless or distressing. Obsessive acts are ritualized acts that have to be repeated frequently, such as washing one's hands, asking questions, counting, touching, checking or collecting. Without treatment, OCD often has serious consequences, such as children no longer being able to go to school on account of their symptoms... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Science News » Adding Psychotherapy to Medication Treatment Improves Outcomes in Pediatric OCD

National Institute of Mental Health — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:50:27 +0100

Youth with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) who are already taking antidepressant medication benefit by adding a type of psychotherapy called cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), according to an NIMH-funded study published September 21, 2011, in the Journal of the American Medical Association. (Source: National Institute of Mental Health)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder: beyond segregated cortico-striatal pathways.

Trends Cogn Sci — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Milad MR, Rauch SL Abstract Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects approximately 2-3% of the population and is characterized by recurrent intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions), typically performed in response to obsessions or related anxiety. In the past few decades, the prevailing models of OCD pathophysiology have focused on cortico-striatal circuitry. More recent neuroimaging evidence, however, points to critical involvement of the lateral and medial orbitofrontal cortices, the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and amygdalo-cortical circuitry, in addition to cortico-striatal circuitry, in the pathophysiology of the disorder. In this review, we elaborate proposed features of OCD pathophysiology beyond the classic parall...

A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial of Fluoxetine for Repetitive Behaviors and Global Severity in Adult Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The American Journal of Psychiatry — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Fluoxetine treatment, compared to placebo, resulted in significantly greater improvement in repetitive behaviors, according to both the Yale-Brown compulsion subscale and CGI rating of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, as well as on the CGI overall improvement rating. Fluoxetine appeared to be well tolerated. These findings stand in contrast to findings in a trial of citalopram for childhood autism. PMID: 22193531 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The American Journal of Psychiatry)

Decreased serotonin content and reduced agonist-induced aggregation in platelets of patients chronically medicated with SSRI drugs

Journal of Affective Disorders — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:23:58 +0100

Abstract: Background: Chronic treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) reduces the risk and severity of cardiovascular diseases. SSRIs block the serotonin transporter, thereby inhibiting serotonin (5-HT) uptake into presynaptic neurons as well as into platelets where 5-HT is stored in dense granules. When 5-HT is released in response to agonists it enhances platelet aggregation induced by injury-related signals. Chronic administration of SSRIs may thus reduce platelet aggregability secondary to depletion of platelets' serotonin stores.Methods: The study included ten DSM-IV-TR major depression (MDD) and four obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) patients and fourteen healthy untreated age- and sex-matched controls. The patients were chronically medicated (6–108months) ...

Dermatologists must beware of skin-related signs of OCD

Modern Medicine — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) makes many skin-related ailments much more than skin deep, says Thelda Kestenbaum, M.D., assistant professor, department of dermatology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan. (Source: Modern Medicine)

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When the ladybug has to count her spots

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

(University of Zurich) Children also suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder. In order to help with their treatment, the Center of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Zurich has developed the cognitive-behavioral computer game "Ricky and the Spider." The game makes it easier for 6- to 12-year-olds to understand their condition, its consequences and the treatment. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

The Relationship of Meta-Worry and Intolerance of Uncertainty With Pathological Worry, Anxiety, and Depression

Behaviour Change — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

This study explored how meta-worry and intolerance of uncertainty relate to pathological worry, generalised anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobia, and depression. University students (n = 253) completed a questionnaire battery. A series of regression analyses were conducted. The results indicated that meta-worry was associated with GAD, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive, and depressive symptoms. Intolerance of uncertainty was related to GAD, social phobia, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, but not depressive symptoms. The importance of meta-worry and intolerance of uncertainty as predictors of pathological worry, GAD, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive and depressive symptoms was also examined. Even though both factors significantly predicted the aforementioned symptoms...

Personality disorders: review and clinical application in daily practice.

American Family Physician — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Angstman K, Rasmussen NH Abstract Personality disorders have been documented in approximately 9 percent of the general U.S. population. Psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and brief interventions designed for use by family physicians can improve the health of patients with these disorders. Personality disorders are classified into clusters A, B, and C. Cluster A includes schizoid, schizotypal, and paranoid personality disorders. Cluster B includes borderline, histrionic, antisocial, and narcissistic personality disorders. Cluster C disorders are more prevalent and include avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders. Many patients with personality disorders can be treated by family physicians. Patients with borderline personality disorder may benefit fro...

Gender differences in obsessive-compulsive disorder: a literature review.

Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Gender is a relevant factor that should be taken into account when evaluating OCD patients. More studies are necessary to determine whether in fact it defines a homogeneous and particular group in OCD. PMID: 22189930 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria)

Neurocognitive response to deep brain stimulation for obsessive-compulsive disorder: a case report.

The American Journal of Psychiatry — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Grant JE, Odlaug BL, Chamberlain SR PMID: 22193674 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The American Journal of Psychiatry)

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An Association Analysis between 5-HTTLPR Polymorphism and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Tourette Syndrome in a Chinese Han Population.

CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:54:20 +0100

Authors: Liu SG, Zhang XH, Yin YY, Wang MJ, Che FY, Ma X PMID: 22117805 [PubMed - in process] (Source: CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics)

Clinical Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders in Adults and Children [Book reviews]

The British Journal of Psychiatry — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: The British Journal of Psychiatry)

Increased prevalence of anxiety symptoms in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis

Fertility and Sterility — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion(s): Our systematic review suggests an increased odds of anxiety symptoms in women with PCOS, underscoring the importance of screening all women with PCOS for anxiety symptoms. Follow-up evaluation and treatment are essential, because generalized anxiety disorder is a chronic condition. Potential contributors for anxiety symptoms, such as hirsutism, obesity, and/or infertility may be specific to women with PCOS but need further investigation. (Source: Fertility and Sterility)

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder as a Comorbidity with Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder

Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Psychother Psychosom 2012;81:58–60 (DOI:10.1159/000329455) (Source: Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics)

Diminished language lateralization in schizophrenia corresponds to impaired inter-hemispheric functional connectivity

Schizophrenia Research — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Diminished language-related asymmetry in the IFG seems to be an early disorder specific neural marker of schizophrenia, supporting its pathogenic role. The relation of this regional abnormality to reduced inter-hemispheric functional connectivity and symptom severity supports the role of large-scale brain disorganization in schizophrenia. This may relate to the known structural abnormalities of the corpus callosum leading to functional hemispheric dysconnection. (Source: Schizophrenia Research)

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Sudden Gains in the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Karger Publishers — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Psychother Psychosom 2012;81:44–51 (DOI:10.1159/000329995) (Source: Karger Publishers)

Humor appreciation of captionless cartoons in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Annals of General Psychiatry — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Humor appreciation, based on captionless cartoons in OCD, does not seem to be deficient compared to healthy subjects but may be related to illness characteristics. (Source: Annals of General Psychiatry)

Co-morbid anxiety disorders in bipolar disorder and major depression: familial aggregation and clinical characteristics of co-morbid panic disorder, social phobia, specific phobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Psychological Medicine — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that co-morbidity of MDD and BP with specific anxiety disorders (OCD, panic disorder and specific phobia) is at least partly due to familial factors, which may be of relevance to both phenotypic and genetic studies of co-morbidity. PMID: 22099954 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Psychological Medicine)

Hospital admissions for obsessive-compulsive disorder in NSW, 1997 to 2010.

Australasian Psychiatry — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 05:26:08 +0100

Conclusions: Although hospital admissions of patients with OCD are uncommon, the high rates of comorbidity and increasing rates of admission alert us to the significance of screening patients for OCD and being able to offer outpatient treatment. PMID: 22077301 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Australasian Psychiatry)

Early onset eating disorders in male adolescents: a series of 10 inpatients.

Australasian Psychiatry — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 05:25:38 +0100

Conclusion: A minority of patients met full diagnostic criteria for AN, with many not meeting weight criteria despite medical instability. The main clinical features were food restriction, over-exercise and psychiatric comorbidity. Treatment with antidepressants, antipsychotics and NGT feeding was frequent. Future prospective studies could help identify gender-specific features as well as benefits and potential side effects of pharmacotherapy in this age group. PMID: 22077304 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Australasian Psychiatry)

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Maternal and Child Expressed Emotion as Predictors of Treatment Response in Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Child Psychiatry and Human Development — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

This study examined the relationship among maternal and child EE, child OCD severity, and OCD-related functioning pre- and post-treatment. At pre-treatment, mothers completed speech samples about the child with OCD and an unaffected sibling. Children with OCD completed speech samples about parents. There were low rates of high maternal EE (child with OCD: 16.1%; sibling: 2.6%) and high child EE about parents (mothers: 11.9%; fathers: 10.2%). High EE was primarily characterized by high criticism, not high overinvolvement. High maternal EE and child EE regarding fathers were associated with pre-treatment child OCD severity but not post-treatment severity. High child and maternal EE were predictive of post-treatment OCD-related functioning. EE may be an important child and maternal trait asso...

Auto-aggressive metallic mercury injection around the knee joint: a case report

BMC Surgery — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Blood levels of mercury will decrease rapidly following surgery, especially in combination with chelating therapy. In case of subcutaneous and intramuscular injection of metallic mercury we recommend marginal or wide excision of all contaminated tissue to prevent migration of mercury and chronic inflammation. Nevertheless, prolonged clinical and biochemical monitoring should be performed for several years to screen for chronic intoxication. (Source: BMC Surgery)

Methylphenidate: Obsessive-compulsive symptoms treated with sertraline in a child: case report

Reactions — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:59:42 +0100

(Source: Reactions)

Length of Stay for Residential OCD Treatment

Psych Central — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 14:32:42 +0100

Toward the end of his freshman year of college, my son Dan’s obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was so severe that he could not even eat. He would get “stuck” in the same chair for hours, barely able to move. Despite his condition, Dan was determined to successfully complete the semester. After all, he had worked hard for years to get into his dream college, and he wasn’t going to let OCD take that away from him. With the support of a close friend who is a clinical psychologist, my son was somehow able to get through the semester. More than anything, Dan wanted to return to school in the fall, and so he was thrilled to be accepted into a world-renowned, intensive residential program for the summer. The staff there assured him that he would have plenty of time to get back on track ...

[Original Article] Prevalence of Personality Disorders and Their Clinical Correlates in Outpatient Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa

Psychosomatic Medicine — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions Associations were found between AN and PDs in adolescents similar to those found in adults. The presence of a PD is associated with a greater severity of AN. PD assessment of adolescent AN patients may permit a more accurate diagnosis and better treatment planning. (Source: Psychosomatic Medicine)

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Dissecting the Gilles de la Tourette spectrum: a factor analytic study on 639 patients

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions GTS is a phenotypically heterogeneous condition encompassing simple tics, specific complex tics and associated behavioural problems. The results, coupled with previous findings, identified a clinical continuum of complex tics, hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms and semantically relevant utterances and gestures. A better characterisation of the GTS phenotypes will help to identify susceptibility genes. (Source: Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry)

Personality Disorders and the 3-Year Course of Alcohol, Drug, and Nicotine Use Disorders [Original Article]

Archives of General Psychiatry — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions The consistent findings on the association of antisocial, borderline, and schizotypal personality disorders with persistent SUD indicates the importance of these personality disorders in understanding the course of SUD. Future studies should examine dimensional representations of personality disorders and the role of specific components of these disorders, biological and environmental contributors to these relationships, and potential applications of these findings to treatment development. (Source: Archives of General Psychiatry)

Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients with mechanical valve prostheses with and without rheumatic fever

Jornal Brasileiro de Psiquiatria — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 23:14:13 +0100

CONCLUSION: High comorbidity of psychiatric disorders, mainly depression and anxiety disorders, was observed in that population, in addition to a high suicide risk. (Source: Jornal Brasileiro de Psiquiatria)

Pathophysiological Modeling of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Challenges, and Progress

Biological Psychiatry — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 23:13:35 +0100

Animal models of disease can enormously advance our understanding of pathophysiology and the development of new treatments. Insight into Parkinson's disease, for example, has been greatly advanced by the demonstration that recapitulating pathologic degeneration of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons produces behavioral changes reminiscent of the disorder and by subsequent pathophysiologic and therapeutic investigations in this model (). Genetic models of Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases have likewise been enormously fruitful in shining light on the pathophysiology of these conditions and identifying new therapeutic targets (). Modeling of most psychiatric conditions has proven much more difficult, which has retarded the development of novel, pathophysiologically informed therapeutic...

Internet-Based Cognitive Behavior Therapy for OCDInternet-Based Cognitive Behavior Therapy for OCD

Medscape Today Headlines — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 10:20:20 +0100

Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder usually respond well to cognitive-behavior therapy, but access to a CBT therapist may be limited. Can an internet-based program provide comparable benefit? BMC Psychiatry (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

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Test Review: CMOCS: Children's Measure of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms

Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

(Source: Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment)

Psychiatric comorbidities in patients with alopecia areata in Taiwan: a case-control study.

The British Journal of Dermatology — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: AA is related to various psychiatric disorders. Onset age of AA is an important factor in the association with different comorbid psychiatric diseases. In addition to cosmetic impact which may bring about anxiety or depression, stress-neuroendocrine-immunology may play an important role in the pathogenesis of both AA and psychiatric disorders. PMID: 22049923 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The British Journal of Dermatology)

The first report of self-directed aggression in a stray dog in Turkey

Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

We present the first report of a stray dog that recovered from canine compulsive disorder (CD)/obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) leading to self-mutilation in Turkey. The dog was brought to a private veterinary clinic in Ankara with severe injuries on his rear paws and tail. During the routine clinical examination, it was noticed that he was displaying repetitive attacks to his hind end. A presumptive diagnosis of CD/OCD was made on the basis of the clinical examination and outdoor observation. After 6 months of treatment involving behavioral modification and medication, a large decrease in intensity and frequency of the CD was observed. (Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research)

Phenomenological features and clinical impact of affective disorders in OCD: a focus on the bipolar disorder and OCD connection

Depression and Anxiety — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Those individuals with comorbid affective disorders, particularly BPD, represent a clinically severe group compared to those without such comorbidity. Clarifying the phenomenological features of OCD‐affective disorder comorbidity has important etiological and treatment implications. Depression and Anxiety 0:1–8, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Source: Depression and Anxiety)

Stress response in postpartum women with and without obsessive-compulsive symptoms: an fMRI study.

J Psychiatry Neurosc... — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Obsessive-compulsive disorder and the postpartum period differentially influence the brain circuitry underlying psychosocial stress as well as the psychologic and endocrine responses. PMID: 22122779 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: J Psychiatry Neurosc...)

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Pharmacotherapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder [Articles]

Advances in Psychiatric Treatment — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

We present a narrative review of evidence-based treatment for obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), covering first-line pharmacological treatment, augmentation strategies, approaches for treatment-refractory OCD and the management of OCD in special populations (children and adolescents, pregnant and breast-feeding women, and elderly people). (Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment)

A Transdiagnostic Examination of Intolerance of Uncertainty Across Anxiety and Depressive Disorders.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Mahoney AE, McEvoy PM Abstract Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) has been identified as a potential maintaining factor for generalised anxiety disorder; however, there is a growing evidence to suggest that IU may contribute to other anxiety and depressive disorders. Moreover, certain components of IU (namely prospective and inhibitory IU) have been shown to be differentially associated with symptoms of emotional disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which individuals with various anxiety and depressive disorders endorsed IU, firstly as a trait variable (with prospective and inhibitory components) and secondly in reference to regularly occurring, diagnostically relevant situations (situation-specific IU). The degree to which diagnosis predicted IU wa...

Is There Such a Thing as Bipolar OCD Disorder?

Psychology Today Depression Center — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:03:54 +0100

Technically, no; you won't find any such diagnosis in the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual). That doesn't mean it doesn't exist. It's not at all uncommon that I hear obsessive compulsive (OC) symptoms as part of bipolar patients' descriptions of what happens when they are out of midrange mood. Primary Topic: Psychiatry read more (Source: Psychology Today Depression Center)

Gray Matter Volumes in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Before and After Fluoxetine or Cognitive-Behavior Therapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Neuropsychopharmacology — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Marcelo Queiroz Hoexter, Fábio Luis de Souza Duran, Carina Chaubet D'Alcante, Darin Dean Dougherty, Roseli Gedanke Shavitt, Antonio Carlos Lopes, Juliana Belo Diniz, Thilo Deckersbach, Marcelo Camargo Batistuzzo, Rodrigo Affonseca Bressan, Euripedes Constantino Miguel & Geraldo Filho Busatto Keywords: biological psychiatry; imaging; clinical or preclinical; psychopharmacology; clinical pharmacology/clinical trials; neuroimaging; OCD; magnetic resonance imaging (Source: Neuropsychopharmacology)

OCD and ADHD: Is There a Connection?

Psych Central — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:35:02 +0100

By the end of his freshman year in college, my son Dan’s obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was so severe that he could not even eat. He would sit in one particular chair for hours, doing absolutely nothing, and he was not able to enter most of the buildings on campus. Because he desperately wanted to be well enough to return to school in the fall, Dan spent his summer at a world-renowned residential treatment program for OCD. Fast-forward a few months and Dan has returned to college. Though he understands his OCD now, and has improved greatly thanks to Exposure Response Prevention Therapy, he is still battling the disorder. He is also taking three different medications. His program of study is intense, and his anxiety levels are high. He is having a hard time keeping track of his cell...

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Editorial Perspective: When OCD takes over…the family! Coercive and disruptive behaviours in paediatric obsessive compulsive disorder

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:28:44 +0100

(Source: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry)

OCD symptoms: Do you continually check lights are off or keep washing your hands?

the Mail online | Health — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 07:23:53 +0100

The term OCD – or obsessive compulsive disorder – has become modern-day shorthand for describing anyone who is clean, tidy or highly driven. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

Gender differences in firesetting: Results from the national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions (NESARC)

Psychiatry Research — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This study presents gender differences in sociodemographics and in psychiatric correlates of firesetting in the United States. Data were derived from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), a representative sample of U.S. adults. Face-to-face interviews of more than 43,000 adults were conducted in the 2001–2002 period. This study focused on the 407 subjects with a lifetime history of firesetting. The prevalence of lifetime firesetting in the U.S. was 1.7% in men and 0.4% in women. Firesetting was significantly associated with a wide range of antisocial behaviors that differed by gender. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated associations in both genders with psychiatric and addictive disorders. Men with a lifetime history of firesetting ...

Clinical, neuroimaging and pathological features of 5-nitroimidazole-induced encephalo-neuropathy in two patients: Insights into possible pathogenesis

Neurology India — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

We report two patients manifesting with involvement of central and peripheral nervous system with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes and pathological features of neuropathy possibly due to harmful and chronic use of various nitroimidazole group of medications for recurrent diarrheal illness. Patient 1, a 21-year-old man with obsessive-compulsive disorder, impulsive behavior and harmful use of substance (tinidazole), had developed encephalopathy and biopsy-proven neuropathy with partial remission. The MRI of brain showed involvement of bilateral caudate, lentiform and dentate nuclei, and splenium, with contrast enhancement of the caudate and putaminal lesions and restricted diffusion of the splenial lesion. Patient 2 was a 50-year-old woman with irritable bowel syndrome and was ...

A Chinese Herbal Formula to Improve General Psychological Status in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial on Sichuan Earthquake Survivors

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Endoscopy — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 09:39:44 +0100

Discussion. Compared to placebo, the XTJYF group was significantly improved in all three SCL global indices (P = 0.001~0.028). More patients in the XTJYF group reported “much improved” than the placebo group (P = 0.001). The XTJYF group performed significantly better than control in five out of nine SCL factors (somatization, obsessive-compulsive behavior, depression, anxiety, and hostility (P = 0.001~0.036)), and in sleep quality score (P<0.001). XTJYF produced no serious adverse events. These findings suggest that XTJYF may be an effective and safe treatment option for improving GPS in patients with PTSD. (Source: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Endoscopy)

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Is Using Technology To Treat OCD a Good Idea?

Psych Central — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:45:59 +0100

For people who are suffering for any reason, the Internet can offer ready-made support. Those with OCD, for example, can visit blogs, forums, mental health sites, and individual health care provider sites dedicated to their disorder. Now it seems things have gone one step further. A recent pilot study of the effectiveness of ICBT (Internet-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy) shows promising results. Twenty-three patients underwent a 15-week ICBT program “with therapist support consisting of psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring and exposure with response prevention. At post-treatment, 61% of participants had a clinically significant improvement and 43% no longer fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of OCD. The treatment also resulted in statistically significant improvements in self-ra...

U.S. FDA Approves New 60 Mg Dosage Strength Of Fluoxetine

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:00:00 +0100

Edgemont Pharmaceuticals, LLC, a neuroscience focused company, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its New Drug Application (NDA) for Fluoxetine Tablets 60 mg. Fluoxetine, originally marked in the U.S. under the brand name Prozac®, has become a widely-known and used treatment for Major Depressive Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in adults and pediatrics, and Bulimia Nervosa and Panic Disorder in adults. Edgemont's Fluoxetine 60 mg tablet is the only fluoxetine product to offer a 60 mg dose in a single pill... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

A review of studies concerning treatment adherence of patients with anxiety disorders

NeLM - Mental Health — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The findings ... (Source: NeLM - Mental Health)

Comorbid social withdrawal (hikikomori) in outpatients with social anxiety disorder: Clinical characteristics and treatment response in a case series.

The International Journal of Social Psychiatry — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: Hikikomori may serve as a proxy for a severe form of SAD. Patients with comorbid SAD and hikikomori have lower treatment response rates than those with SAD alone. PMID: 21997765 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The International Journal of Social Psychiatry)

Biased interpretation in perfectionism and its modification.

Behaviour Research and Therapy — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Yiend J, Savulich G, Coughtrey A, Shafran R Abstract Perfectionism is a transdiagnostic construct associated with a range of diagnoses, including depression, eating disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder. Treatments that directly target perfectionist cognitions have been shown to successfully reduce associated pathologies. However, the way in which they do this is not clear. We set out to assess the role of one candidate mechanism of action, namely the cognitive process of interpretation of ambiguity. In one experiment we looked for associations between biased interpretation and perfectionism. In a second, we manipulated interpretations, thereby providing a strong test of their aetiological significance. Results from the first experiment confirmed the presence of bias...

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OCD and Stressful Life Events

About.com Obsessive Compulsive Disorder — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Like all forms of mental illness, symptoms of OCD are often triggered or exacerbated by stressful events. A recent study in the Israel Journal of Psychiatric and Related Sciences sought to examine the relationship between OCD symptoms and stressful events. Comparing people with and without OCD, this investigation found that life events were significantly more frequent in OCD patients, as compared to healthy controls. Importantly, the severity of OCD symptoms was directly proportional to the number of stressful life events experienced in the last six months prior to symptom onset. As this study was correlational, it difficult to make statements about causation. Indeed, it is possible that the onset of OCD symptoms may cause stressful live events to occur (e.g., missing wor...

Extract of Valerian Root (Valeriana Officinalis L.) vs. Placebo in Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Randomized Double-Blind Study

Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:26:15 +0100

Conclusion: The results suggest that Valeriana Officinalis L. has some antiobsessive and compulsive effects. However, further studies are needed to confirm these findings. Psychiatrists often find that many patients cannot tolerate the side effects of psychiatry medicine Valeriana Officinalis L. is a well-known medicinal plant with a long history of usage in world with effect on GABA.The results showed significant difference between the extract and placebo in the treatment of OCD. There was also no significant difference between the two groups in terms of observed side effects. (Source: Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine)

Interferon-Induced Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Malignant Melanoma

Pharmacopsychiatry — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

We report here the case of a 23-year-old woman who developed obsessive-compulsive symptoms for the first time during interferon therapy after excision of a malignant melanoma.[...]© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New YorkArticle in Thieme eJournals:Table of contents | Abstract | Full text (Source: Pharmacopsychiatry)

Unilateral right anterior capsulotomy for refractory major depression with comorbid obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Neurocase — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Overall this unilateral right AC was effective for the treatment of this woman's disorders with minimal adverse side effects. PMID: 21985692 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Neurocase)

Obsessive compulsive disorder and psychopathic behaviour in Babylon. - Reynolds EH, Kinnier Wilson JV.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:10:04 +0100

Background: The history of obsessive compulsive, phobic and psychopathic behaviour can be traced to the 17th century AD. Methods and results: We draw attention to these behaviours in a Babylonian cuneiform medical text known as Shurpu. These three categori... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

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Editorial Perspective: When OCD takes over…the family!Coercive and disruptive behaviours in paediatric obsessive compulsive disorder

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 12:00:42 +0100

(Source: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry)

- Article

About.com Obsessive Compulsive Disorder — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Article document index for the About.com GuideSite. (Source: About.com Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

- Quick Tip

About.com Obsessive Compulsive Disorder — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Quick Tip document index for the About.com GuideSite. (Source: About.com Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

Inference-Based Therapy for Compulsive Hoarding: A Clinical Case Study

Clinical Case Studies — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Compulsive hoarding (CH) is a chronic and debilitating condition that generally shows poor treatment response to both psychopharmacotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy. The present case study describes the application of a cognitive inference-based therapy program to the treatment of a 39-year-old woman diagnosed with CH. During a 24-week treatment period, her hoarding behavior and associated beliefs significantly decreased. Specifically, Yale–Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale scores became subclinical at the 6-months follow-up. There was also a clinically significant decrease in Beck Depression Inventory–II, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Overvalued Ideas Scale, and Saving Inventory–Revised scores. The single case study has implications for the treatment of CH and other pro...

Concurrent Treatment of Early Childhood OCD and ODD: A Case Illustration

Clinical Case Studies — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

A total of 12% of young children with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) present with comorbid oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), yet empirically based treatment packages are designed for implementation with monodiagnostic cases. The current case illustrates treatment of both disorders using concurrent exposure with response prevention and behavioral parent training. A 6-year-old male child is presented with significant obsessions and compulsions. To accommodate his OCD, his parents set limits inconsistently and used consequences infrequently. In addition, the child often was aggressive and defied adults. Treatment focused on training the child’s mother to differentiate anxiety-related behavior from oppositional behavior. The mother was also trained to conduct exposure and respons...

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Negotiating A Deal With An Obsessive Compulsive Leader

Psychology Today Anxiety Center — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:47:56 +0100

What does an organization do when faced with an overwhelmingly abusive and offensive leader? In the previous article posted (see "The Stranglehold of an Obsessive Compulsive Leader") I unveiled a brilliant but troubled CEO. Dr. Joan Smythe simultaneously brought positive marketshare alongside dissonance and psychopathology to her workplace. Primary Topic: Work read more (Source: Psychology Today Anxiety Center)

Expanding applications of deep brain stimulation: a potential therapeutic role in obesity and addiction management

Acta Neurochirurgica — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 05:48:04 +0100

Conclusions Well-designed pilot studies and clinical trials enrolling carefully selected patients with obesity or addiction should be initiated. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Review ArticlePages 1-14DOI 10.1007/s00701-011-1166-3Authors Casey H. Halpern, Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Washington Square West Building, 235 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USANapoleon Torres, Département: DRT/DTBS/SBSC/DIR CEA-LETI, CEA-LETI, CLINATEC, Grenoble, FranceHoward I. Hurtig, Department of Neurology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Neuroscience Graduate Group, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USAJohn A. Wolf, Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Functional and Rest...

Spectrofluorimetric determination of sertraline in dosage forms and human plasma through derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate

Chemistry Central Journal — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of commercial tablets and the results obtained were in good agreement with those obtained using the reference method. Furthermore, the method was applied for the determination of SER in spiked and real human plasma. The mean % recovery (n= 3) was 94.33 +/- 1.53 and 92.00 +/- 2.65, respectively. A proposal of the reaction pathway was postulated. (Source: Chemistry Central Journal)

Etiology of obsessions and compulsions: A meta-analysis and narrative review of twin studies.

Clinical Psychology Review — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Taylor S Abstract The relative importance of genetic and environmental factors in the etiology of obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms is unclear. Cognitive-behavioral models propose that shared environment (e.g., parenting style) is important. Family segregation studies suggest that nonadditive genetic factors may be involved. To investigate the etiology of OC symptoms, a meta-analysis was conducted of 37 twin samples from 14 studies, supplemented by a narrative review. Results indicated that in terms of mean effect sizes, (a) additive genetic effects and nonshared environment accounted for most of the variance in OC symptoms, (b) shared environment and nonadditive genetic effects made little or no contribution; (c) these findings did not vary with sex or symptom severity; ...

A preliminary randomized double–blind clinical trial on the efficacy of celecoxib as an adjunct in the treatment of obsessive–compulsive disorder

Psychiatry Research — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:59 +0100

Abstract: Obsessive–compulsive disorder is a common neuropsychiatric condition. Although a variety of pharmaceutical agents is available for its treatment, psychiatrists have found that many patients cannot tolerate the side effects, do not respond to treatment adequately, and may finally discontinue their treatment. However, augmentation strategies have been shown to have some benefits in the treatment of OCD. These include reducing both the overall cost of treatment and the side effects. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of celecoxib as an adjuvant agent in the treatment of OCD in an 8-week, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. To this end, 25 patients were assigned to a study group and were given fluoxetine 20mg/day plus celecoxib 400mg/day (200mg BID). The contr...

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Preliminary investigation of web-camera delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy for youth with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Psychiatry Research — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:59 +0100

This study reports a waitlist controlled randomized trial of family-based cognitive-behavioral therapy delivered via web-camera (W-CBT) in children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Thirty-one primarily Caucasian youth with OCD (range=7–16years; 19 male) were randomly assigned to W-CBT or a Waitlist control. Assessments were conducted immediately before and after treatment, and at 3-month follow-up (for W-CBT arm only). Primary outcomes included the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS), clinical global improvement rates, and remission status. When controlling for baseline group differences, W-CBT was superior to the Waitlist control on all primary outcome measures with large effect sizes (Cohen's d≥1.36). Thirteen of 16 youth (81%) in the W...

Neuropsychological functioning in hoarding disorder

Psychiatry Research — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:59 +0100

Abstract: Hoarding disorder (HD) is increasingly viewed as distinct from obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). In particular, some researchers have suggested that HD is characterized by substantial problems of neurocognitive function; however, HD patients have not yet been compared to OCD patients in this respect. The aim of the present study was to compare neuropsychological test performance in HD patients (n=27), OCD patients (n=12), and healthy controls (n=26). Consistent with previous research, HD patients showed an attenuated ability to sustain attention and poorer employment of adaptive memory strategies compared to healthy controls. HD and OCD patients did not differ significantly on these measures, although moderate effect sizes suggested that hoarders showed somewhat greater atte...

Response Perseveration in Stimulant Dependence Is Associated with Striatal Dysfunction and Can Be Ameliorated by a D2/3 Receptor Agonist

Biological Psychiatry — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:44:42 +0100

Conclusions: Perseveration during reversal learning was associated specifically with stimulant dependence rather than with compulsive behaviors more generally. The beneficial effects of a dopamine agonist drug challenge on both behavior and associated brain activation in SDIs may indicate new avenues for pharmacologic treatment in stimulant dependence. (Source: Biological Psychiatry)

What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and how does it affect sufferers’ lives? (2011-10-14)

Institute of Psychiatry | Events — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:42:33 +0100

What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and how does it affect sufferers’ lives? The Institute of Psychiatry is hosting an event by OCD-UK to raise awareness of this chronic condition during OCD Awareness Week. The seminar is free to all and is suitable for anyone who would just like to find out more about OCD, how it affects people and more about treatments, from sufferers to healthcare pr (Source: Institute of Psychiatry | Events)

The Stranglehold of an Obsessive Compulsive Leader

Psychology Today Anxiety Center — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:59:44 +0100

Joan Smythe, Ph.D., is an obsessively compulsive toxic leader who drives her engineers to the edge of the corporate cliff. She is a driven and possessed CEO. Dr. Smythe is also a relentless workaholic. This lady is cancerously committed to the death and expects that her employees work themselves down to the bone marrow. Primary Topic: Work read more (Source: Psychology Today Anxiety Center)

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New Approach Simplifies The Search For More Specific Drugs For Mood Disorders

Health News from Medical News Today — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0100

Psychiatric ailments such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder or anxiety states are often associated with disturbances in the metabolism of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Neurotransmitters are compounds that are released from the synapses at nerve cell endings and activate the firing of neighboring neurons. Thus, as their name suggests, they mediate the transmission of nerve impulses. The serotonin transporter (SERT) is responsible for reuptake of the transmitter into neurons, terminating its action... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

New Approach Simplifies The Search For More Specific Drugs

Health News from Medical News Today — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0100

Many psychiatric conditions are caused by aberrant metabolism of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Researchers in the Department of Pharmacy at LMU have now developed a new screening method, which will facilitate the search for new drugs that modulate the biological activity of serotonin. Psychiatric ailments such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder or anxiety states are often associated with disturbances in the metabolism of the neurotransmitter serotonin... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Narcolepsy with Cataplexy Associated with Nocturnal Compulsive Behaviors: A Case-Control Study

Sleep — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 22:41:09 +0100

Conclusion:Our study shows a strong association of the compulsive nocturnal behaviors SRED and NS with adult NC.Citation:Palaia V; Poli F; Pizza F; Antelmi E; Franceschini C; Moghadam KK; Provini F; Pagotto U; Montagna P; Schenck CH; Mignot E; Plazzi G. Narcolepsy with cataplexy associated with nocturnal compulsive behaviors: a case-control study. SLEEP 2011;34(10):1365-1371. (Source: Sleep)

Sleep-related problems in children and adolescents with anxiety disorders.

Behavioral Sleep Medicine — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This study examined the prevalence and patterns of sleep problems in a sample of children with anxiety disorders. Participants were 175 children, aged 6 to 18 years, with a primary diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, social phobia, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, presenting for assessment at an anxiety specialty clinic. Ninety percent of the sample demonstrated at least one sleep-related problem (SRP), and 82% experienced two or more. Frequencies of sleep problems did not differ between males and females or across younger and older children. However, type of sleep problems varied by diagnostic category. Findings also revealed strong associations between SRPs and a range of child anxiety measures, as well as a predictive relationship whereby number of a...

Atypical Antipsychotics Appear to Be Effective For Only Few Off-Label Uses

Drugs.com - Pharma News — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:09:33 +0100

CHICAGO—A review of previous studies suggests that even though atypical antipsychotic medications are commonly used for off-label conditions such as behavioral symptoms of dementia, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, these medications... (Source: Drugs.com - Pharma News)

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An exploration of economic reasoning in hoarding disorder patients.

Behaviour Research and Therapy — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Tolin DF, Villavicencio A Abstract Current models of hoarding disorder (HD) emphasize problems of decision-making. Evidence for neuropsychological impairment in HD, however, has been mixed. The present study examined whether HD patients show problems of economic reasoning that could be associated with decision-making problems. Forty-two HD patients, 29 obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients, and 36 healthy control participants completed the Iowa gambling task (IGT), a computerized card playing game that assesses participants' ability to learn and utilize a rule of sacrificing short-term gain for long-term gain, and a cognitive dissonance reduction task that measured changes in preference for items (art prints) after selecting or rejecting them. Results showed no defi...

Cognitive behavioral therapy with family intervention for children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder: a systematic review

Revista de Psiquiatria do Rio Grande do Sul — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:51:27 +0100

O transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo (TOC) é uma doença mental grave, com graves consequências para a dinâmica familiar. Desta forma, o envolvimento dos pais parece ser determinante na resolução dos sintomas desse transtorno. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade da evidência para a recomendação de terapia cognitivo-comportamental (TCC) com intervenção familiar para crianças e adolescentes com TOC. A busca sistemática foi realizada nas bases de dados MEDLINE/PubMed, seguida da análise de resumos e artigos na íntegra por dois avaliadores independentes. Posteriormente, foi realizada a análise de evidência através do sistema Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). O tamanho de efeito da intervenção foi calculado através do d de Co...

Group therapy for morbid jealousy

Revista de Psiquiatria do Rio Grande do Sul — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:51:27 +0100

Qualidade de vida na infância e na adolescência: orientações para pediatras e profissionais da saúde mental

Revista de Psiquiatria do Rio Grande do Sul — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:51:27 +0100