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image of Comorbidity of ADHD, but not Tics, has Detrimental Impact in Adults with OCD

Abstract

Background

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) frequently co-occurs with tic disorders (TD) and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Data on adults are limited because most studies focus on children.

Objective

We aimed to investigate the clinical and sociodemographic impact on adults of the comorbidity of OCD with ADHD or TD.

Method

We screened 356 adults seeking treatment for OCD in a cross-sectional observational study for past or present ADHD and TD. We used the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 Item (HDRS-17) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). We also questioned parameters mainly involving adult life, such as marital status, unemployment rate, educational attainment, suicide attempts (SA), hospitalization, alcohol use disorder (AUD), substance use disorder (SUD) and smoking.

Results

Of 356 adults, 71.07% had OCD only, 15.45% OCD+ADHD, 8.15% OCD+TD and 5.34% OCD+ADHD+TD. Y-BOCS scores did not differ among these categories. The comorbidity of ADHD was generally characterized by higher HDRS-17 and BAI scores, higher prevalence of AUD/SUD, fewer years of education and a higher percentage of non-married, divorced, and unemployed individuals. SA and rates of hospitalization were similar across the four categories. TD had no relationship with any of these characteristics.

Conclusion

In adults with OCD, past or present ADHD has deleterious effects on anxiety, depressive symptoms, educational attainment, employment and marital status, whereas TD is not associated with any worsening of clinical or sociodemographic characteristics.

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2025-02-20
2025-03-30

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Comorbidity of ADHD, but not Tics, has Detrimental Impact in Adults with OCD
Bentham Science Publishers ; https://doi.org/10.2174/0126660822346308250214114825
/content/journals/cprr/10.2174/0126660822346308250214114825
/content/journals/cprr/10.2174/0126660822346308250214114825
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  • Article Type:     Research Article
Keywords: educational attainment in obsessive-compulsive disorder ; attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder ; alcohol use disorder ; tic disorder ; smoking ; unemployment in obsessive-compulsive disorder ; substance use disorder ; Obsessive-compulsive disorder comorbidity

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