Pattern of occurrence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in bipolar disorder. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tonna, Matteo; Trinchieri, Margherita; Lucarini, Valeria; Ferrari, Martina; Ballerini, Massimo; Ossola, Paolo; De Panfilis, Chiara; Marchesi, Carlo
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 297(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: Bipolar disorder -- Obsessive-compulsive disorder -- Mixed states -- Comorbidity -- Treatment; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113715
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Highlights: OCS cycle with mood phases with a particular exacerbation in mixed states. Depression can be involved in the pathogenesis of OCS. Increased thoughts flow with deficient inhibition may favor the occurrence of OCS. Mood-stabilization should be the first therapeutic goal in BD-OCD patients. Abstract: Apparent comorbidity between Bipolar Disorder (BD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common condition, but its meaning has not been clarified yet. The present study aimed to evaluate the pattern of occurrence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) in the different phases of BD. One hundred and sixty-five BD patients, 62 (37.5%) euthymic, 34 (20.6%) in hypomanic/manic phase, 43 (26%) in depressive phase and 26 (15.7%) in mixed state, were assessed with the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS). In the whole sample, the severity of OCS was associated to the severity of depressive symptoms. The highest severity of OCS (YBOCS total score) was observed in the mixed group and the lowest scores in the hypomanic/manic group. Our findings suggest that OCS in BD patients appear as a state-dependent phenomenon cycling with the mood phases, particularly exacerbating in the context of depressive and mixed states.