title: Frequency and severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms/disorders, violence and suicidal in schizophrenic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study determined the prevalence and severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms/disorder (OCS/OCD), aggression and suicidal in schizophrenic patients. Also we compared the prevalence and severity of aggression and suicidal in schizophrenic patients with and without OCS/OCD considering anxiety, depression and substance abuse as confounding factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  During 2007 and 2008, 100 schizophrenic patients were evaluated with Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Spilberger State/Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Scale for suicide Ideation, and Overt Aggression Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OCS/OCD and suicidal attempts were seen in 33%, 10% and 12% of patients respectively. The most common form of aggression was against others (55%), and aggressive obsessions were seen in 10% of the patients. Comparing patients with and without OCS/OCD, there were no significant differences in the severity of schizophrenia, suicidal and overt aggression. The severity of overt aggression was related to the patients' age and education reversely. Also, there was a relationship between their suicidal thoughts and residence in the cities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High rate of aggressive obsessions and lack of relationship between severity of aggression and presence of OCD indicated that these patients did not act on these thoughts. The risk of suicide was more serious in patients living in the cities, and risk of violence was more serious in younger and less educated patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Mazandaran, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zarghami
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moudi
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mohammadpour