title: Comorbid obsessive-compulsive disorder with bipolar disorder: A distinct form?
abstract: We examined whether the patients with Bipolar Disorder (BD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) comorbidity may represent a distinct form of BD. The subjects diagnosed with BD (n=48), OCD (n=61), and BD with OCD (n=32) were compared in terms of several socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Previous history of suicidal attempts was more likely to be higher in BD-OCD group compared to the other two groups. A more episodic course of OCD, higher rates of rapid cycling, and the seasonality were found in BD-OCD patients. The frequency of bipolar II and NOS subtypes was more prevalent in patients with BD-OCD than in OCD patients. The first diagnosed illness was BD in the majority of BD-OCD cases. It was found that first affective episode was major depression in half of BD-OCD patients. Age at onset of BD was found to be earlier in BD-OCD group compared to pure BD patients. Bipolarity may not have a specific effect on the phenomenology of OC symptoms. The episodic course of OCD, seasonality, rapid cycling, earlier onset of BD, and impulsivity in BD-OCD patients may be indicative for a distinct form of BD.
authors.affiliation: Adnan Menderes University Department of Psychiatry, Aydın, Turkey.
authors.forename: Filiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ozdemiroglu
authors.affiliation: Adnan Menderes University Department of Psychiatry, Aydın, Turkey. Electronic address: lsevincok@adu.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sevincok
authors.affiliation: Adnan Menderes University Department of Psychiatry, Aydın, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gulnur
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.affiliation: Adnan Menderes University Department of Psychiatry, Aydın, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sanem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mersin
authors.affiliation: Adnan Menderes University Department of Psychiatry, Aydın, Turkey.
authors.forename: Oktay
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kocabas
authors.affiliation: Adnan Menderes University Department of Psychiatry, Aydın, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kadir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karakus
authors.affiliation: Adnan Menderes University Department of Psychiatry, Aydın, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vahapoglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
keywords: Bipolar Disorder; Comorbidity; Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder