Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Patients with Epilepsy at Ramathibodi Hospital

Abstract

Objective : To study the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder in patients with
epilepsy and the association between obsessive-compulsive symptoms and epilepsy.
Methods : A cross-sectional study was undertaken at Ramathibodi hospital. 170 participants
were diagnosed with epilepsy and agreed to participate in this study. The demographic
characteristics were interviewed and diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder were
assessed by Thai version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) and
obsessive-compulsive symptoms were evaluated by the Thai version of the Florida
Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (FOCI-T). This study used percentage for prevalence
of disease, Chi-square for evaluating associations between obsessive-compulsive
symptoms and epilepsy.
Results : 170 participants were assessed by M.I.N.I. Thai, 5 patients with obsessive
compulsive disorder (OCD) were founded (2.9%). When assessed by the FOCI-T there
were 29 patients with obsessive-compulsive symptoms (17.06%). The mean age of
patients with obsessive-compulsive symptoms was 30.38 years old. The most common
obsessive symptom was “Lost things” (55.17%), and the most common compulsive
symptom was “Ask repeatedly to make sure they had done the right thing” (65.52%).
Conclusion : The proportion of obsessive-compulsive disorder in patients with epilepsy
was 2.9% but proportion of obsusive compulsure symptoms was 17.06%. The obsessivecompulsive
symptoms can affect the quality of life. Therefore, epilepsy patients with
obsessive-compulsive symptoms should be screened and diagnosed.