title: Does anti-obsessional pharmacotherapy treat so-called comorbid depressive and anxiety states?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic condition that normally presents high rates of psychiatric comorbidity. Depression, tic disorders and other anxiety disorders are among the most common comorbidities in OCD adult patients. There is evidence that the higher the number of psychiatric comorbidities, the worse the OCD treatment response. However, little is known about the impact of OCD treatment on the outcome of the psychiatric comorbidities usually present in OCD patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of exclusive, conventional treatments for OCD on the outcome of additional psychiatric disorders of OCD patients, detected at baseline.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six patients with primary OCD admitted to the treatment protocols of the Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders Program between July 2007 and December 2009 were evaluated at pre-treatment and after 12 months. Data were analyzed to verify possible associations between OCD treatment response and the outcome of psychiatric comorbidities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed a significant association between OCD treatment response and improvement of major depression and dysthymia (p-value=0.002), other anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, specific phobia, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia and anxiety disorder not otherwise specified) (p-value=0.054) and tic disorders (p-value=0.043).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is an open, non-blinded study, without rating scales for comorbid conditions. Further research is necessary focusing on the possible mechanisms by which OCD treatment could improve these specific disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that certain comorbid disorders may benefit from OCD-targeted treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Hospital of Clinics, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. carol.ac.psico@gmail.com
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valerio
authors.forename: Juliana Belo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fossaluza
authors.forename: Maria Alice
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Mathis
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Belotto-Silva
authors.forename: Marinês Alves
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Joaquim
authors.forename: Eurípedes Constantino
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Miguel Filho
authors.forename: Roseli Gedanke
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Shavitt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents