OBJECTIVE: The authors evaluated the frequency of DSM-III-R obsessive-
compulsive disorder in patients with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia
or schizoaffective disorder. METHOD: Patients with schizophrenia (N = 52)
or schizoaffective disorder (N = 25) were evaluated for the presence of
obsessions and compulsions by means of the Structured Clinical Interview
for DSM-III-R, the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, chart review, and
contact with the treating clinicians. RESULTS: Six (7.8%) of the 77
patients met the DSM-III-R criteria for both obsessive-compulsive disorder
and schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. CONCLUSIONS: These findings
suggest that obsessive-compulsive disorder occurs in a substantial
percentage of patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. The
addition of medications targeted at obsessive-compulsive disorder may be
beneficial to these patients but requires systematic evaluation.Abstract Teaser