title: Frequency of obsessive-compulsive disorder in patients with multiple sclerosis: A cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obsessive compulsive disorder has been reported in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a kind of anxiety disorder characterized by a combination of repetitive thoughts and repetitive behaviors for reducing anxiety. We aimed to investigate the frequency of OCD in patients with MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  112 patients with multiple sclerosis participated in this study. Demographic data were obtained through using patients' medical records. MS clinical subtypes, the duration of disease and neurological signs were determined. The Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was used to quantify disability in MS, which was confirmed by psychiatrist through using DSM-IV criteria for OCD. The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) was used to rate the severity of OCD. Data analysis was performed by SPSS for Windows software (version 15.0) and Chi-square test and Exact test were used for analyzing data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of OCD in patients with MS was 16.1%. The OCD was significantly correlated with a higher EDSS score (X(2) = 86.515, P = 0.0001). OCD was also significantly correlated with the duration of disease, phenotypic subgroup, cranial nerve involvement, cerebellar, autonomic, sensory and motor nerve involvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OCD might be considered in quantifying disability of patients with MS. It might be suggested that all the patients with MS to be screened for OCD.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University Of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foroughipour
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Behdani
authors.forename: Paria
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hebrani
authors.forename: Majid Nabizadeh
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Marvast
authors.forename: Fereshte
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Esmatinia
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akhavanrezayat