Obsessive-compulsive symptoms in schizophrenia during treatment with clozapine an conventional antipsychotic drugs

Abstract

Introduction. We compare the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in schizophrenic patients in treatment with clozapine and those who receive classic antipsychotic drugs.

Method. Outpatients with schizophrenia treated with clozapine (n = 56) or classic antipsychotic drugs (n = 54) at the Honorio Delgado-Hideyo Noguchi Specialized Institute in Mental Health (Lima-Peru), were evaluated for the presence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms by means of the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Module of Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and Yale-Brown ObsessiveCompulsive Symptoms Checklist.

Results. 46.4 % of patients treated with clozapine presented obsessive-compulsive symptoms while this occurred in 20.4 % of those with classic antipsychotic drugs (p=0.005). In addition, 21.4 % of patients with clozapine and 13 % of those treated with classic antipsychotics presented obsessive-compulsive disorder according to DSM-IV criteria (p=0.31).

Conclusion. In schizophrenic patients, treatment with clozapine is associated with a higher rate of obsessive-compulsive symptoms than treatment with classic antipsychotic drugs.