title: Factors associated with the duration of untreated illness among patients with obsessive compulsive disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), despite heightened levels of functional impairment and disability, often wait several years before starting pharmacological treatment. The interval between the onset of a specific psychiatric disorder and administration of the first pharmacological treatment has been conceptualized as the duration of untreated illness (DUI). The DUI has been increasingly investigated as a predictor of long-term outcomes for OCD and other anxiety disorders. The present study investigated DUI, and demographic-clinical factors associated with DUI, among a sample of patients with OCD. The relationships between DUI, insight, and treatment outcomes were also assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 96 subjects with a DSM-IV diagnosis of OCD using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders, a semistructured interview for sociodemographic and clinical features, the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), and a questionnaire designed by our group to identify reasons for delaying psychiatric admission. Patients with OCD showed a mean DUI of 84 months. However, DUI was not predictive of remission defined by a Y-BOCS total score of 10. Using the median value, a categorical cut-off for DUI of 4 years was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For patients with a shorter DUI (≤4 years), the age of OCD onset was significantly older than patients with a longer DUI (>4 years) (p<.001). The following four items related to reasons for delaying treatment were significantly endorsed by patients: the fact that symptoms were spontaneously fluctuating over time (61.5%), believing that OCD symptoms were not associated with an illness (60.4%), believing that one can overcome symptoms by him/herself (55.2%), and not being significantly disturbed by OCD symptoms (33.3%). Delaying treatment because of perceived social stigma was only endorsed by 12.5% of patients. Believing that OCD symptoms were not associated with an illness was significantly associated with a longer DUI (p=.039).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results from the present study suggest that patients with OCD show a significant inclination toward delaying treatment admission. However, DUI was not predictive of remission in terms of symptomatology. Believing that OCD symptoms are not associated with an illness might indicate impairment in insight, a denial of the problem or could be associated with awareness of OCD as a mental illness. Factors related to the nature and course of OCD appear to be important determinants in delaying treatment among patients with OCD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Cerrahpaşa Medical School, University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: canaaksoy@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Cana Aksoy
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Poyraz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Cerrahpaşa Medical School, University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Şenol
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Turan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Cerrahpaşa Medical School, University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nazife Gamze Usta
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Sağlam
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Cerrahpaşa Medical School, University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gizem Çetiner
authors.initials: GÇ
authors.lastname: Batun
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Cerrahpaşa Medical School, University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yassa
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Cerrahpaşa Medical School, University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alaattin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duran
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012737:Sex Factors; D057545:Social Stigma; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D061665:Time-to-Treatment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult