Article
Psychology, Developmental
Sarah L. O'Dor, J. S. Zagaroli, R. M. Belisle, M. A. Hamel, O. M. Downer, S. Homayoun, K. A. Williams
Summary: The study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with PANS/PANDAS and their caregivers. The results showed that the pandemic had a negative effect on children's friendships, family relationships, hobbies, and academic skills. Additionally, children with suspected or diagnosed COVID-19 experienced increased psychiatric symptoms, and caregivers reported dissatisfaction and burden in their relationships.
CHILD PSYCHIATRY & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Natalia Szejko, Kirsten R. Muller-Vahl
Summary: Tourette syndrome (TS) is characterized by vocal and motor tics, often accompanied by psychiatric comorbidities. Differential diagnosis between tics and OCD-related phenomena can be challenging, as some symptoms may overlap. "Just right" phenomena are common in patients with TS, showing similarities with both tics and OCD. Treatment strategies for tics and OCD in TS patients should take into consideration these complexities.
NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISEASE AND TREATMENT
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Maral Melkonian, Sarah McDonald, Amelia Scott, Eyal Karin, Blake F. Dear, Bethany M. Wootton
Summary: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic and unremitting condition with low rates of symptom improvement and spontaneous remission in the absence of treatment.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Clinical Neurology
Trevor. W. Robbins
Summary: This scientific commentary discusses the research conducted by Kim et al. on the unbalanced fronto-pallidal neurocircuit underlying set shifting in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, published in the journal Brain.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Basak Sahin, Yasir Safak, Kadir Ozdel
Summary: This study aimed to identify cognitive differences specific to symptom dimensions of OCD and investigate the relationship between these dimensions and cognitive features. The results showed that certain cognitive features were closely associated with specific symptom dimensions and could even predict these dimensions.
CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Esengul Ekici, Mustafa Ugurlu, Fatih Yigman, Yasir Safak, Kadir Ozdel
Summary: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a heterogeneous disorder, and the dimensions of contamination, harm, unwanted thoughts, and symmetry may vary in each patient. This study found that cognitive and emotional factors and their relations varied depending on the OCD dimensions. Identifying cognitive and emotional factors related to these differences is of significance for therapeutic interventions.
CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Leonardo F. Fontenelle, Lucy Albertella, Mary-Ellen Brierley, Emma M. Thompson, Louise Destree, Sam R. Chamberlain, Murat Yucel
Summary: This study investigated the deterioration of symptoms of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (OCRDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding that factors such as being female, experiencing more COVID-19 related stressful events, and having higher compulsivity traits predicted worsened symptoms during the pandemic. Identifying a pre-pandemic profile of individuals most at risk of symptom deterioration may be valuable for future preventative initiatives related to COVID-19 or other communicable diseases. Future studies should follow up on these findings longitudinally.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jose Fidel Baizabal-Carvallo, Marlene Alonso-Juarez, Joseph Jankovic
Summary: This study found that dystonic tics are present in about a third of patients with Tourette syndrome (TS) and are associated with increased severity of TS.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Gabriella T. Ponzini, Miranda Signorelli, Elizabeth A. Claydon, Christa Lilly, Shari A. Steinman
Summary: This study examined the stereotypes towards symptom presentations of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and found that different types of symptoms are associated with different stereotypes, including anxiety-relevant stereotypes and stereotypes related to serious mental illness. The findings are important for reducing OCD stigma and provide intervention strategies for addressing these stereotypes.
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Anette-Eleonore Schrag, Davide Martino, Hanyuying Wang, Gareth Ambler, Noa Benaroya-Milstein, Maura Buttiglione, Francesco Cardona, Roberta Creti, Androulla Efstratiou, Tammy Hedderly, Isobel Heyman, Chaim Huyser, Pablo Mir, Astrid Morer, Natalie Moll, Norbert E. Muller, Kirsten R. Muller-Vahl, Kerstin J. Plessen, Cesare Porcelli, Renata Rizzo, Veit Roessner, Markus Schwarz, Zsanett Tarnok, Susanne Walitza, Andrea Dietrich, Pieter J. Hoekstra
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the association between group A streptococcal (GAS) infections and tic incidence among unaffected children with a family history of chronic tic disorders (CTDs). Findings showed a strong association between sex and tic onset, with girls having a lower risk of developing tics compared to boys. However, there was no statistical evidence to suggest an association between GAS exposure and tic onset.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Justyna Kaczynska, Piotr Janik
Summary: This study evaluated the prevalence, age of onset, and clinical correlates of blocking tics (BTs) in patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS). BTs represent early and common symptoms of GTS, associated with a more severe form of the syndrome.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Review
Psychiatry
Louise Destree, Mary-Ellen E. Brierley, Lucy Albertella, Laura Jobson, Leonardo F. Fontenelle
Summary: This study conducted a systematic review on the relationships between childhood trauma and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) severity. The results showed a significant relationship between exposure to childhood trauma and OCS severity in both clinical and non-clinical populations. It was also found that a range of childhood trauma types, rather than a single type, was associated with OCD.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Lilach Rachamim, Hila Mualem-Taylor, Osnat Rachamim, Michael Rotstein, Sharon Zimmerman-Brenner
Summary: This study found that in children and adolescents with tic disorders, both the presence of ADHD and the absence of comorbid ADHD were associated with similar reductions in tic symptoms after internet-delivered, self-help comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (ICBIT). However, the presence of OCD comorbidity was associated with a lesser response to intervention. Furthermore, the intervention also led to significant reductions in parental reports of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Larger studies are needed to further optimize the application of ICBIT in children and teens with both tic disorders and comorbid ADHD and OCD.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Francesco Demaria, Paolo Alfieri, Maria Cristina Digilio, Maria Pontillo, Cristina Di Vincenzo, Federica Alice Maria Montanaro, Valentina Ciullo, Giuseppe Zampino, Stefano Vicari
Summary: KBG syndrome is a rare disease characterized by short stature, facial dysmorphism, and other symptoms. This study found that a subset of patients with KBGS exhibited peculiar behaviors related to paper handling, reminiscent of symptoms seen in obsessive compulsive disorder.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Hadar Naftalovich, Gideon E. Anholt, Rotem Keren, Oded Ben Arush, Eyal Kalanthroff
Summary: This study examined the relationship between alertness and OCD symptom severity fluctuations throughout the day, finding that individuals with an evening preference tended to have worse symptoms in the morning, and vice versa. The findings suggest that alertness may modulate OCD symptom severity, with individuals experiencing more severe symptoms during times of low alertness.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2021)