Seasonal variation in obsessive-compulsive disorder: preliminary experience with light treatment

Article Abstract:

Seasonal affective disorder, which has only recently been described, has sparked interest in possible seasonal variations that may be associated with a number of psychiatric disorders. The fluctuation of symptoms with the seasons and the possibility of successful treatment of them with bright light (as in seasonal affective disorder) is of interest. In the present study, 34 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder were surveyed. All were given a questionnaire to assess seasonal patterns in mood and behavior. Six of the patients whose obsessive compulsive features were stable with medication were given phototherapy. Four were receiving clomipramine at 100 to 175 milligrams per day; two of the patients received buspirone at 60 mg/day as well. One patient was taking fluoxetine 80 mg/day, and one was unmedicated. All six patients were exposed to 10,000-lux white light for 30 minutes daily for two weeks. The 34 patients had an average global seasonality score of 5.4; the six patients treated with light had an average score of 6.0. Of light-treated patients who reported seasonal variation in symptoms, two reported that symptoms were worse during the winter, and two reported they were worse in the summer. None of the patients treated with light substantially improved, as measured by the global seasonality scores. There were no side effects to the treatment. Overall, obsessive-compulsive patients did not report seasonal variation of their symptoms to a significant degree. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Research, Seasonal variations (Diseases), Phototherapy

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Symptoms of eating disorders in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Article Abstract:

Much recent interest has focused on a possible relationship between obsessive-compulsive disorders and eating disorders. The two categories share a number of clinical and biological symptoms. To further examine this relationship, 59 patients suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder were asked to complete the Eating Disorder Inventory, a self-report that is given to assess cognitive and behavioral features of those thought to have an eating disorder. Scores were matched with those of sex-matched healthy subjects and were compared with scores typical of patients suffering from anorexia or bulimia nervosa. When the sexes were grouped together, the obsessive-compulsive subjects had significantly higher scores on all eight subscales of the inventory than the sex-matched healthy subjects. When separated by sex, obsessive-compulsive male subjects had significantly higher scores than healthy male subjects on seven of the eight subscales. Obsessive-compulsive female subjects had significantly higher scores than healthy female subjects on six of seven subscales. When the scores for the obsessive-compulsive and the healthy female subjects were compared with scores from females with either anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, the scores for the obsessive-compulsive females tended to fall in the middle. These results support the notion that obsessive-compulsive subjects share some psychopathological traits and behavior with patients who have eating disorders. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Diagnosis, Eating disorders, Identification and classification, Psychology, Pathological, Psychopathology, Categorization (Psychology)

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Controlled comparison of buspirone and clomipramine in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Article Abstract:

Research has established a link between obsessive-compulsive disorder, a psychiatric complaint characterized by uncontrollable repetitive actions and/or thoughts, and an excess of serotonin, a chemical substance produced by the body. An excess of serotonin can occur either by overproduction of the substance or when cells absorb more than they need from the blood. Treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder has relied upon clomipramine, a drug that inhibits absorption of serotonin. Another drug, buspirone, inhibits the production of serotonin but has not been studied with regard to its possible effect on obsessive-compulsive disorder. Twenty outpatients who met standard diagnostic criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder and who experienced symptoms for a minimum of one year were assigned to one of two treatments: clomipramine or buspirone. Both drugs led to statistically significant improvements on a series of obsessive-compulsive and depression rating scales. This preliminary result suggests that serotonergic agents (drugs that effect serotonin levels in one way or another) other than clomipramine may be useful in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Drug therapy, Clomipramine, Buspirone hydrochloride, Buspirone

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