Case report on obsessive-compulsive disorder in a patient with mild mental retardation

Abstract

By presenting this case report we wish to understand if there is a correlation between obsessive-compulsive disorder, mild mental retardation and cranio-cerebral traumatism. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is part of the anxiety spectrum disorders and is characterized by having repetitive and intrusive thoughts that distress the patient or by having repetitive behaviors (compulsions) or both. Usually the compulsive behaviors are meant to calm the anxiety that accompanies the intrusive thought.(2) The patient presented in this case report obtained a below medium score at the Raven test (IQ=65). In this type of case, regarding the diagnosis of mild mental retardation, we adopted the medical treatment because from the lack of the patient difficulty to communicate psychotherapy would not be a viable option.