title: Obsessive compulsive symptoms are related to lower quality of life in patients with Schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) on quality of life (QoL) and to identify the OCS with a particular effect on QoL, and whether there are any such symptoms for patients with schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied three groups of patients with schizophrenia. One group of patients (n = 45) without OCS or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), one group with OCS, not fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for OCD (n = 31), and one group with OCD as a comorbid condition (n = 24). Severity of clinical symptoms was evaluated with the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale and OCS was examined using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) Symptom Checklist. We also administered the Y-BOCS. The patients' QoL was assessed using the Quality of Life Scale (QLS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  QLS interpersonal relationships subscale scores of those with OCS were lower than those without OCS. There was no difference among OCS, non-OCS, and OCD groups in terms of QoL. There was no relationship between QLS scores and symmetry, contamination and causing harm obsessions, but those with cleaning and repeating compulsions had lower QoL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Questioning of comorbid OCS and treatment with specific medication in schizophrenia patients may increase QoL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Alp
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Üçok
authors.forename: Aysu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kıvrak Tihan
authors.forename: Gülşah
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karadayı
authors.forename: Raşit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tükel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D063189:Symptom Assessment / Q000523:psychology; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Schizophrenia; obsessive–compulsive disorder; obsessive–compulsive symptoms; quality of life