| Abstract: |
Adolescents with OCSs only, might represent a separate clinical intity from OCD patients (Grabe et al, 2000). There were many adolescents suffering from subthreshold Obsessive Compulsive Syndrome (whosedid not meet the full criteria of OCD) (Maina et al, 1999).OCD is characterized by the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions and is a chronic and often a disabling disorder (Grados and Riddle, 2005). It causes significant interference in social and/or educational functioning (APA, 2000).There were many psychosocial risk factors that predispose to the occurance of the disorder (Humaida et al, 2004) as well as biological susceptibility (Sobin et al, 2000).Aim of the work1) To assess the prevalence rates of obsessive compulsive symptoms (OCSs) in a sample of secondary school and university students aging 15-20 years in Sharkia Goernorate.2) To assess the point prevalence rates of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).3) To determine the possible risk factors associated with OCSs and OCD.4) To perform CT brain for a sample of OCD patients, to detect any possible abnormality as regards the size of the caudate nucleus.Subjects and MethodsThis study was carried out upon a sample of secondary schools and university students in Sarkia Governorate, they were subjected to:(1) Arabic form of Symptom Checklist Questionnaire to to screen for the obsessive compulsive symptoms.(2) Students who have positive symotoms were submitted to a structured interview using Composite International Diagnostic criteria, to detect obsessive compulsive disorder.(3) CT brain was performed to a sample of students with OCD and a control group.The study was carried out from May-2003 to June-2005.Results• Prevalence rate of OCSs was 35.7% and that of OCD was 3.75%.• OCSs prevalence rate was significantly higher in group I (15-17 years), and in students of secondary schools, while OCD was significantly higher in groupe II (18-20 years) and in university students.• There was no significant difference as regards sex for both OCSs and OCD.• There was no significant difference between male and female as regards OCSs in group I and in students of secondary schools, while females had a significantly higher OCSs prevalence rate than males in group II and in university students.There was a significant difference between males and females as regards OCD in group I and in students of secondary schools (males>females), and in group II and university students (females>males).• Scientific students in secondary schools and university had a significant higher rate of OCSs than literary students; also scientific students in university had a significantly higher rate of OCD than literary students, while there was no significant difference between them in secondary schools.• There was no significant difference between scientific and literary sections in secondary education or the literary faculties in OCSs as regards sex, while females of the scientific faculties had a significant higher rate of OCSs than males.As regards OCD, boys of the literary section of secondary education had a significant higher rate than girls, while girls of the practical faculties had a significant higher rate of OCD than boys; while there was no significant difference in OCD as regards sex in scientific secondary education and in theoretical faculties.• Students of distinguished classes had significant higher rates of OCSs and OCD than those of the ordinary classes.• As regards risk factors: Students with home troubles, parental separation, those with positive family history of any psychiatric illnesses and those with positive consanguinity had significantly higher rates of OCSs and OCD than those without, while residence, death of one of the two parents, family size and birth order were not considered as risk factors.• There was no significant difference between OCD patients and control subjects as regards volumes of both right and left caudate nuclei.Recommendations(1) The observation that 35.7% of the adolescent population are suffering from OCSs, highlights the attention toward this clinically valid subgroup which modern classifications should be aware.(2) The observation that 3.75% of the adolescent population suffered from OCD with subsequent comorbidity and failure indicates that more reseaches about its pathogenesis are needed (especially PANDAS subgroup).(3) People are in need to know much about psychiatric illnesess especially OCD as many of them are falsly convinced that it is a phenomenon that will be resisted and beaten just by will and without a psychiatric consultaion.(4) MRI is better than CT scans to demonstrate brain structural abnormalities in OCD patients, and it is recommended to select patients with positive and negative family history with a control group in comparison.(5) Arabic scales should be valid and constructed to represent OCD in our culture.(6) Types of symptoms of obsessions and compulsions should be studied in subsequent researches.
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