Clinical characteristics and family history in DSM-III obsessive- compulsive disorder

TLDR

The study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics, demographics, and family history of 44 DSM‑III OCD patients. The authors examined a clinical sample of 44 DSM‑III OCD patients, collecting data on symptoms, demographics, and family history. Findings confirmed prior epidemiologic results on OCD phenomenology, course, and demographics, revealed high rates of comorbid depression or anxiety, identified probable OCD or traits in many first‑degree relatives, and suggested the data will aid future epidemiologic, biological, and behavioral research.

Abstract

The authors present the clinical characteristics, demographic features, and family history of a clinical sample of 44 patients who met DSM-III criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Their findings are consistent with those of previous epidemiologic studies completed before the introduction of DSM-III with regard to phenomenology, course, and demographic characteristics. Most of the 44 patients had concomitant or lifetime histories of a major depressive disorder or another anxiety disorder. A number of first-degree relatives of these patients had probable obsessive-compulsive disorder or obsessive traits. The findings of this study should prove useful in further epidemiologic, biologic, and behavioral studies.