Treatment outcome of schizophrenia co-morbid with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the pharmacological treatment outcome of schizophrenia, co-morbid with obsessive-compulsive disorder by comparing the effects of typical neuroleptic, atypical neuroleptic and a combination of typical with anti-obsessional drugs on positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia and obsessional symptoms. DESIGN A quasi-experimental study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY The study was conducted at the Department of Psychiatry, Postgraduate Medical Institute and Services hospital, Lahore from September 2002 to July 2003. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The sample consisted of 39 patients suffering from schizophrenia co-morbid with obsessive-compulsive disorder. They were divided in three groups according to the pharmacological treatment given by the treating psychiatrists. Sample was assessed at the start of treatment and twelve weeks later. RESULTS Patients receiving typical neuroleptics and anti-obsessional drugs showed better outcome (p <.05) both in psychotic (pre-intervention mean scores of positive scale of PANSS 26.90 as compared to postinterventional mean scores 19.00) and obsessional symptoms (pre-intervention mean scores on Padua Inventory 165.00 compared to 84.00 postinterventional mean scores) than those receiving typical and atypical neuroleptics alone. CONCLUSION Treatment outcome of schizophrenia co-morbid with obsessive-compulsive disorder shows better results if anti-obsessional drugs are added to the neuroleptics.