Factors associated with major depressive disorder occurring after the onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
BACKGROUND
We aimed to investigate the correlates of major depressive disorder (MDD) occurring after the onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).


METHODS
Forty-three OCD patients who developed MDD after the onset of OCD (OCD-MDD group) and 67 OCD patients without MDD (non-MDD, NMDD group) were compared with regard to sociodemographic characteristics, clinical history, symptom severity, types of obsessions and compulsions, insight degree, comorbid axis I and axis II diagnosis and quality-of-life level.


RESULTS
The OCD-MDD group scored significantly higher on measures of obsessions, compulsions and depression severity than did the NMDD. Significantly more aggressive obsessions were identified in the OCD-MDD group than in the NMDD group. The OCD-MDD group was also significantly more likely than the NMDD group to have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). There was no significant difference in the rate of personality disorders between the groups. The OCD-MDD group reported significantly lower levels of quality of life (QOL) in the domains of physical health, psychological health and social relationships. Depression severity was associated with obsession but not with compulsion severity. In a logistic regression model, obsession severity, presence of GAD and aggressive obsessions emerged as the factors associated with the occurrence of MDD.


CONCLUSIONS
To exclude ineligible patients, we gathered the information about past mood episodes cross-sectionally.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that psychopathological processes mediated by specific obsessions as well as excessive anxiety and worries may render the neurocircuities more vulnerable to the development of MDD. The occurrence of MDD in OCD cannot sufficiently be explained as a secondary complication to the disability of OCD.
Besiroglu
Lutfullah
L
Yüzüncü Yil University, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Van 65200, Turkey. Lbesiroglu@yyu.edu.tr
Uguz
Faruk
F
Saglam
Mursel
M
Agargun
Mehmet Yucel
MY
Cilli
Ali Savas
AS
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors