Citation

Dell'Osso L, Casu G, Carlini M, Conversano C, Gremigni P, Carmassi C. Ann. Gen. Psychiatry 2012; 11.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/1744-859X-11-27

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The topic of sexual obsessions as a psychiatric symptom has not been well investigated. The aim of this study was twofold: 1) to explore the presence of sexual obsessions in patients with mood disorders (n=156), panic disorder (n=54) and schizophrenia (n=79), with respect to non-psychiatric subjects (n=100); 2) to investigate the relationship between sexual obsessions and suicidal behaviors, taking into account socio-demographic variables ad mental disorders.

METHODS: 289 psychiatric patients with mood disorders, panic disorder or schizophrenia, were recruited at the Italian University departments of psychiatry along with 100 non-psychiatric subjects, who presented for a routine eye exam at the ophthalmology department of the same Universities. The assessments included: the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Self-Report (OBS-SR), for sexual obsession, and the Mood Spectrum-Self Report lifetime version (MOODS-SR). Suicidality was assessed by means of 6 items of the MOODS-SR.

RESULTS: Sexual obsessions were more frequent in schizophrenia (54.4%), followed by mood disorders (35.9%). Among schizophrenia patients, males reported more sexual obsessions than females (P<0.01). Subjects who were more likely to report suicidal behaviors (suicidal ideation, plans and attempts) were female (adjusted OR=1.99), patients with mental disorders, specifically mood disorders (adjusted OR=11.5), schizophrenia (adjusted OR=3.7) or panic disorder (adjusted OR=2.9), and subjects who reported lifetime sexual obsessions (adjusted OR= 3.6). Sexual obsessions remained independently associated with all aspects of suicidal behaviors. Age, education, marital and employment status were not related to suicidal behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS: Special attention should be given to investigate and establish effective strategies of treatment for sexual obsessions, especially those with comorbid mood disorders or schizophrenia. © 2012 Dell'Osso et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; female; male; Schizophrenia; suicidal ideation; Suicidal attempt; Suicidal ideation; sex difference; schizophrenia; suicide attempt; major depression; suicidal behavior; Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; comorbidity; posttraumatic stress disorder; mood disorder; Mood disorders; article; major clinical study; disease association; dysthymia; marriage; obsession; sexual behavior; panic; Panic disorder; mental patient; employment; demography; impulse control disorder; educational status; Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders; Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale; DSM-IV-TR; sexual obsession; Sexual obsessions; Suicidal plans