title: Separation anxiety disorder in OCD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A history of separation anxiety disorder (SAD) is frequently reported by patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The purpose of this study was to determine if there are clinical differences between OCD-affected individuals with, versus without, a history of SAD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data collected during the OCD Collaborative Genetic Study, we studied 470 adult OCD participants; 80 had a history of SAD, whereas 390 did not. These two groups were compared as to onset and severity of OCD, lifetime prevalence of Axis I disorders, and number of personality disorder traits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OCD participants with a history of SAD were significantly younger than the non-SAD group (mean, 34.2 versus 42.2 years; P<.001). They had an earlier age of onset of OCD symptoms (mean, 8.0 versus 10.5 years; P<.003) and more severe OCD, as measured by the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (mean, 27.5 versus 25.0; P<.005). In addition, those with a history of SAD had a significantly greater lifetime prevalence of agoraphobia (odds ratio (OR) = 2.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.4-4.6, P<.003), panic disorder (OR = 1.84, CI = 1.03-3.3 P<.04), social phobia (OR = 1.69, CI 1.01-2.8, P<.048), after adjusting for age at interview, age at onset of OCD, and OCD severity in logistic regression models. There was a strong relationship between the number of dependent personality disorder traits and SAD (adjusted OR = 1.42, CI = 1.2-1.6, P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A history of SAD is associated with anxiety disorders and dependent personality disorder traits in individuals with OCD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1629 Thames Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Megan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mroczkowski
authors.forename: Fernando S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Goes
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Riddle
authors.forename: Marco A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Grados
authors.forename: O Joseph
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Bienvenu
authors.forename: Benjamin D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: Abby J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fyer
authors.forename: James T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: McCracken
authors.forename: Scott L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Rauch
authors.forename: Dennis L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Knowles
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piacentini
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Geller
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Pauls
authors.forename: Kung-Yee
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nestadt
authors.forename: Jack F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Samuels
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003859:Dependent Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology