Evaluation of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Patients According to Gender Differences

Purpose: A homogenous classification cannot be obtained because of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder's (OCD) heterogeneous structure. The present study aimed to determine the relation of gender related differences with clinical features, symptom dimensions, age of onset, comorbidity in OCD patients. As distinct from the other studies we also aimed to evaluate the difference of Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale's (Y-BOCS) subscales (insight, avoidance, pathologic doubt and pathologic responsibility, instability, retardation) between male and female patients with OCD. Method: The present study comprised of 198 patients aged between 15 and 65 years, who met the OCD criteria of DSM-IV-TR. Detailed data on clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were recorded. The patients were divided into two groups; male (n=65) and female (n=133). The patients underwent Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Inventory (SCID-I), Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale and Check List, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory. Scores of these inventories were statistically compared. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in mean age, marital status, education level, family history, social support, hospitalization and suicidal attempt history between the two groups. We found a high treatment seeking, earlier age onset of obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms and disorder in males. We did not find any symptom differences except sexual obsession and repeating compulsion between male and female patients with OCD. We also found high BAI and BDI scores in females. We did not find statistically significant differences in the proportion of comorbid psychiatric disorders and the subscales of Y-BOCS between genders. Conclusion: The present study suggests that age of onset, treatment seeking, anxiety, depression level, and some OC symptoms are different between male and female patients and gender may be used for the classification of the OCD

Prevalence and associated risk factors of somatization disorder among Turkish university students at an education faculty

WOS: 000267350900008Objective: There are no studies in the literature investigating the epidemiology of somatization disorder at a large sample group of young adults. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the lifelong prevalence and possible associated risk factors of somatization disorder among students of Cukurova University Education Faculty. Methods: The study group included 804 students. We first applied a semi-constructed questionnaire of socio-demographic characteristics and General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) and then administered the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) part C for the psychiatric diagnosis. Logistic regression analysis was performed in order to evaluate the possible risk factors associated with somatization disorder. Results: Somatization disorder was diagnosed in 62 people (7.7%). Female sex, history of chronic illness, lower educational level of mother and verbal abuse in the family were found to be statistically significant risk factors related with somatization disorder. Conclusion: This study demonstrate a higher prevalence of somatization disorder among a group of university students compared to other prevalence studies of somatization disorder in the general population. Also according to our results there might be some important risk factors for young adults of our country associated with somatization disorder. (Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry 2009; 10: 131-136

No Interaction Between Childhood Maltreatment and Serotonin Transporter Gene in Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder: A Clinical Sample

Introduction: There is inconsistent evidence of interaction between childhood adversities and a serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism (5- HTTLPR) in depression. It is hypothesized that genetic sensitivity to stress could be more specific to recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD). The aim of the study is to replicate a recent study which provided preliminary evidence of interaction between severity of childhood maltreatment and the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism in recurrent MDD