Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume 102, Issue 1 , Pages 73-79, September 2007

Factors associated with major depressive disorder occurring after the onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder

  • Lutfullah Besiroglu

      Affiliations

    • Yüzüncü Yıl University, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Van 65200, Turkey
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +90 432 216 4711; fax: +90 432 216 7519.
    • ,
  • Faruk Uguz

      Affiliations

    • Selçuk University, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Konya, Turkey
    • ,
  • Mursel Saglam

      Affiliations

    • Yüzüncü Yıl University, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Van 65200, Turkey
    • ,
  • Mehmet Yucel Agargun

      Affiliations

    • Yüzüncü Yıl University, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Van 65200, Turkey
    • ,
  • Ali Savas Cilli

      Affiliations

    • Selçuk University, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Konya, Turkey

Received 2 November 2006; received in revised form 7 December 2006; accepted 8 December 2006.

Abstract 

Background

We aimed to investigate the correlates of major depressive disorder (MDD) occurring after the onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Methods

Forty-three OCD patients who developed MDD after the onset of OCD (OCD-MDD group) and 67 OCD patients without MDD (non-MDD, NMDD group) were compared with regard to sociodemographic characteristics, clinical history, symptom severity, types of obsessions and compulsions, insight degree, comorbid axis I and axis II diagnosis and quality-of-life level.

Results

The OCD-MDD group scored significantly higher on measures of obsessions, compulsions and depression severity than did the NMDD. Significantly more aggressive obsessions were identified in the OCD-MDD group than in the NMDD group. The OCD-MDD group was also significantly more likely than the NMDD group to have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). There was no significant difference in the rate of personality disorders between the groups. The OCD-MDD group reported significantly lower levels of quality of life (QOL) in the domains of physical health, psychological health and social relationships. Depression severity was associated with obsession but not with compulsion severity. In a logistic regression model, obsession severity, presence of GAD and aggressive obsessions emerged as the factors associated with the occurrence of MDD.

Limitations

To exclude ineligible patients, we gathered the information about past mood episodes cross-sectionally.

Conclusions

These results suggest that psychopathological processes mediated by specific obsessions as well as excessive anxiety and worries may render the neurocircuities more vulnerable to the development of MDD. The occurrence of MDD in OCD cannot sufficiently be explained as a secondary complication to the disability of OCD.

Keywords: Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Depression, Obsession, Comorbidity, Generalized anxiety disorder, Quality of life

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PII: S0165-0327(06)00539-8

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2006.12.007

Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume 102, Issue 1 , Pages 73-79, September 2007

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