Obsessive-compulsive Symptoms In Adolescents Research Articles

Associations between somatomotor-putamen resting state connectivity and obsessive-compulsive symptoms vary as a function of stress during early adolescence: Data from the ABCD study

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) are relatively common during adolescence although most individuals do not meet diagnostic criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Nonetheless, OCS during adolescence are associated with comorbid psychopathologies and behavioral problems. Heightened levels of environmental stress and greater functional connectivity between the somatomotor network and putamen have been previously associated with elevated OCS in OCD patients relative to healthy controls. However, the interaction of these factors within the same sample of individuals has been understudied. This study examined somatomotor-putamen resting state connectivity, stress, and their interaction on OCS in adolescents from 9–12 years of age. Participants (n = 6386) were drawn from the ABCD Study 4.0 release. Multilevel modeling was used to account for nesting in the data and to assess changes in OCS in this age range. Stress moderated the association between somatomotor-putamen connectivity and OCS (β = 0.35, S.E. = 0.13, p = 0.006). Participants who reported more stress than their average and had greater somatomotor-left putamen connectivity reported more OCS, whereas participants who reported less stress than their average and had greater somatomotor-left putamen connectivity reported less OCS. These data suggest that stress differentially affects the direction of association between somatomotor-putamen connectivity and OCS. Individual differences in the experience or perception of stress may contribute to more OCS in adolescents with greater somatomotor-putamen connectivity.

Cross-disorder comparison of sensory reactivity, pain, gastro-intestinal symptoms and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in adolescents and young adults with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders

There is considerable evidence of the relationship among sensory reactivity, abdominal pain, and gastrointestinal symptoms in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Furthermore, these events are linked to the gut-microbiota-brain axis via the enteric nervous system. However, few studies have compared autism with other neurodevelopmental disorders in terms of sensory reactivity, pain, or gastrointestinal symptoms. Consequently, this study aimed to analyze the differences in sensory reactivity, pain, and gastrointestinal symptoms between adolescents and young adults with ASD and other neurodevelopmental and neurotypical disorders. Differences in sensory reactivity, pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms between a group of individuals with ASD level I (n = 37), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD (n = 15), Learning Difficulties or LD (n = 23), and a control or neurotypical group (n = 76) were analyzed. Higher levels of sensory hyperreactivity were found in individuals with ASD than in the other clinical (ADHD and LD) and neurotypical groups. Sensory hyporeactivity was greater in individuals with ASD as well as in individuals with ADHD than that in the neurotypical group. Higher levels of pain were found in the ADHD group than in the ASD or neurotypical group. Gastrointestinal symptoms of the abdominal type were more severe in the ASD group than in the ADHD, and LD groups, whereas dyspepsia was more severe in the ADHD group. The results indicate a sensory and gastrointestinal profile in individuals with ASD and ADHD. Future studies should increase the number of participants for each neurodevelopmental disorder and perform a more comprehensive analysis of the gut microbiota-brain axis.

Relationship between Cognitive Strategies of Emotion Regulation and Dimensions of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptomatology in Adolescents.

Cognitive emotion regulation refers to the management of one's emotions through cognitive strategies. Studies have found that individuals with obsessive-compulsive symptoms utilize emotion regulation strategies differently compared to those without these symptoms. This study aims to investigate the relationship between cognitive strategies for emotion regulation and specific dimensions of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in adolescents. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 307 adolescents between 12 and 18 years old. Associations between sociodemographic variables, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and emotion regulation strategies were examined using regression and network analyses. Regression results indicated that emotion regulation strategies and gender accounted for 28.2% of the variation in overall obsessive-compulsive symptoms (p < 0.001) and that emotion regulation explained most variance in the symptom dimension of obsessing. Network analysis showed that self-blame and catastrophizing were uniquely linked to overall obsessive-compulsive symptoms, while several strategies were uniquely linked to specific symptom dimensions. The adaptive strategy that demonstrated the strongest association with obsessive-compulsive symptoms was refocus on planning, while maladaptive strategies included catastrophizing, self-blame, and rumination. In conclusion, the results support the relationship between cognitive strategies for emotion regulation and dimensions of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in adolescents, though these relations appear complex and require further investigation. Addressing emotion regulation in the prevention of obsessive-compulsive symptoms may be warranted, but prospective studies are needed.

Developing and Examining the Effectiveness of a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Based Psychoeducation Practice for Reducing Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Adolescents: A Mixed-Methods Study With a Turkish Sample

This study developed a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based psychoeducation practice aimed at reducing obsessive-compulsive symptom levels in adolescents in Turkey and tested its effectiveness with a mixed-methods study. After the study was constructed as a pretest-posttest control group experimental application consisting of qualitative stages. The experimental application of the study was carried out with high school students in Turkey. In the sampling process, the schools, where the study will be carried out, were determined with the cluster sampling method. The experimental and control groups were formed with 30 students with high obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms from these schools, and the developed CBT-based psychoeducation practice was applied to the experimental group for 12 weeks. Quantitative data were collected through the “Child Version of the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory,” and normality analysis, t-test for dependent samples, and Single Factor Analysis of Covariance were used. Qualitative data of the study were collected through document review, session evaluation forms, and semi-structured interview protocol; content and descriptive analysis techniques were used in the analysis. It was concluded that the developed CBT-based psychoeducation application was an effective approach in reducing OCD symptoms in the Turkish adolescent sample, except for the neutralizing dimension. It was also determined that the findings obtained from the analysis during the application and the interviews after the application are parallel with the findings obtained by quantitative methods, and the qualitative and quantitative findings adequately explained the quantitative documents findings.

COVID-19 pandemic fears and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in adolescents with pre-existing mental disorders: An exploratory cross-sectional study.

Background:Previous research has established an association between pandemic fears and the development of obsessive-compulsive symptoms mainly in the general population.Aim:To explore whether COVID-19 pandemic fears are associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms and vice versa in adolescents with preexisting mental and behavioural disorders.Methods:A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study among adolescents with pre-existing mental disorders. The extent of worrying related to the COVID-19 pandemic was measured using the COVID-19 inventory whereas obsessive-compulsive symptoms were assessed using the obsessive-compulsive inventory-revised (OCI-R). Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was used to explore the relationship between COVID-19 pandemic fears and the development of obsessive-compulsive symptoms.Results:A total of 57 patients out of 63 participants (90.4%) had a COVID-19 inventory score of 12 or higher suggesting that a vast majority of young people with mental disorders had significant pandemic-related worries. Out of these 57 patients, over half (31) had an OCI-R modified score of 17 or higher indicating significant obsessive-compulsive symptoms. A positive correlation was found between the means of the two scores. This relationship was statistically significant – {r = 0.405, Sig. (two-tailed) = 0.001}.Conclusion:Adolescents with mental disorders can exhibit significant pandemic fears and this is likely to be associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

The relationship between obsessive-compulsive symptoms and traumatic life events in adolescents

Objective: The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the possible relationship between obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) and traumatic life events (TLEs) in this clinical sample of adolescents. The secondary objective is to evaluate the relationship between different clinical presentations and severities of OCS and specific TLEs. Methods: The study included 60 adolescents between 12-16 ages, with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) ac-cording to DSM-V and 60 adolescents without any psychiatric diagnosis. Sociodemographic characteristics of cases were evaluated with detailed form; in addition, neuropsychological tests were applied to investigate development of intelligence and trauma characteristics of childhood. Turkish version of Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizo-phrenia for School-Age-Children Present and lifetime version, Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, Children's Depression Inventory and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-short form were applied in order to assess psychopathology. Intelligence level of patients were assessed with Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Re-vised. Results: It was determined that there was a strong relationship between TLEs and OCS in adolescents, especially in females. TLEs were associated with all OCS manifestations, most prominently with sexual, religious and harm obsessions. The sexual abuse showed stronger associations with OCS compared with other TLEs. Dis-cussion: Due to limited number of patients, our findings couldn’t be generalized to all adolescents with OCS; there-fore there is a need for more studies in this area.

Comparison of Quality of Life, Depression, Anxiety, Suicide, Social Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms Between Adolescents with Acne Receiving Isotretinoin and Antibiotics: A Prospective, Non-randomised, Open-Label Study.

The effects of isotretinoin on suicide, social anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in adolescents with acne have not been sufficiently investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life, depression, anxiety, suicide, social anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms of adolescents receiving systemic isotretinoin and antibiotic treatments at baseline and at 3months. The study included a total of 102 adolescents using isotretinoin (n = 60) and antibiotics (n = 42). The Acne Quality of Life Scale (AQLS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Suicide Probability Scale (SPS), Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), and Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Question List (MOCQL) were administered to both groups at baseline and at 3months. In order to exclude patients with comorbid psychiatric disorders, the patients were evaluated at the beginning of the study with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL). There were no significant differences in the mean age, gender distribution, educational level, and family history of mental illness between the two groups. There were significant decreases in the Global Acne Grading System scores, visual analogue scale scores, AQLS scores, total and subscale scores of LSAS, and total and subscale scores of MOCQL at 3months compared with baseline in both groups. However, there were no significant changes in the total and subscale scores of HADS and total and subscale scores of SPS at 3months compared with baseline in both groups. We found that neither isotretinoin nor antibiotic treatment affected the levels of depression, anxiety, and suicide in acne patients. Moreover, both isotretinoin and antibiotic treatment were shown to improve the quality of life, social anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in acne patients. However, clinicians should be careful about psychiatric side effects in patients using isotretinoin. Further studies with a larger number of cases and with a longer follow-up period are needed to investigate the complex effects of isotretinoin on the central nervous system.

Effects of traumatic experiences on obsessive-compulsive and internalizing symptoms: The role of avoidance and mindfulness

BackgroundTrauma exposure is associated with adverse psychological outcomes including anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms. Adolescence is increasingly recognized as a period of vulnerability for the onset of these types of psychological symptoms. The current study explored the mediating roles of experiential avoidance and mindfulness processes in the association between retrospective reports of childhood trauma and current internalizing and OC symptoms in adolescents. MethodA group of at-risk adolescents (N = 51) and a group of college students (N = 400) reported on childhood trauma, experiential avoidance, mindfulness, anxiety, depressive, and OC symptoms. Mediation analyses were performed to examine the mechanistic roles of avoidance and mindfulness in the association between trauma and internalizing and OC-specific symptoms. ResultsIn the group of at-risk adolescents, experiential avoidance and mindfulness both significantly mediated the association between childhood trauma and OC symptoms. In the college student sample, experiential avoidance mediated the association between trauma and OC symptoms. Experiential avoidance, as well as the observe, act with awareness, and nonjudgmental facets of mindfulness all significantly mediated the association between trauma and internalizing symptoms. LimitationsThe group of at-risk adolescents was small, and the college student group was demographically homogeneous. All data was self-report and cross-sectional. ConclusionThe current study demonstrated that experiential avoidance and mindfulness processes may be the mechanisms through which the association between trauma and obsessive-compulsive and trauma and internalizing symptoms exist in adolescents. These findings provide potential targets for clinical intervention to improve outcomes for adolescents who have experienced trauma.

Symptoms Analysis of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder in Adolescents and Adults in a Teaching Hospital

Obsessive-compulsive disorder has a broadly diverse clinical expression that reflects heterogeneity. Several studies have identified consistent symptom dimensions of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The purpose of this study was to conduct an exploratory symptoms analysis of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in adolescents and adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Psychiatry, National Medical College. This study examined lifetime occurrence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms included in the 13 symptom categories of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale. Symptoms analysis was performed on 60 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Eight categories of obsessions and six categories of compulsions from Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale were included in the analyses. SPSS software package (version 16) was used to analyze the data and shown in the table. Of 60 adolescents and adults, female and male were in the ratio of 1.2:1. Contamination was the most common occurring obsession followed by aggressive obsession. The most common occurring compulsion was checking followed by washing. Only a minority of patients (13.33%) presented predominantly with obsessions however 18.33% patients presented predominantly with compulsions. Certain obsessions and compulsions co-occur to form a cluster. In adolescents and adults, obsessive-compulsive disorder is a multidimensional disorder. Symptom dimensions are predominantly congruent with those described in similar studies of adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The relationship between resilience and levels of anxiety, depression, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms in adolescents

Mental health problems affect approximately 20% of adolescents. Traditionally, the principal focus has been on vulnerability and risk factors and less on protective factors. The study, therefore, explores the relation between frequent psychiatric symptoms and resilience factors among older adolescents. The Resilience Scale for Adolescents (READ) was completed by 307 Norwegian high school students (M = 16.4 years) along with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, and the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised. Higher resilience scores predicted lower scores on levels of depression, anxiety, stress and obsessive-compulsive symptoms after controlling for age and gender. This study provides further evidence that it may be fruitful for clinicians and researchers to attend to resilience factors in relation to psychological symptoms among older adolescents.

Further Support for Responsibility in Different Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Turkish Adolescents and Young Adults

According to the cognitive model, an inflated sense of responsibility is an important cognitive mediator both in the development and maintenance of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Empirical findings assign differential roles to responsibility in different kinds of obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms. However, findings that suggested a different function for responsibility revealed the need for an operational definition of responsibility and its multi-factorial structure. Few studies have examined the role of responsibility in OC symptoms in adolescents. The present study therefore aimed to explore responsibility concerns and to evaluate the relationship between responsibility dimensions and obsessive-compulsive symptom subgroups in two samples of adolescents and university students in a developing non-Western country. The findings suggested that the Responsibility Attitude Scale had a bifactorial structure, responsibility being based on self-dangerousness and prevention. Adolescents reported more responsibility in prevention and self-dangerousness than university students. The results appear to contribute to the symptom differentiation of OC behaviour by highlighting the importance of both dimensions of responsibility for checking symptoms, responsibility based on danger prevention for cleaning and, finally, responsibility based on self-dangerousness for obsessive thinking. Replication with clinical samples and different methodologies are encouraged.