Autistic, schizotypal traits, and insight level in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder

Comorbid personality disorders and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) range between 33 and 87%. Patients having OCD more commonly receive cluster A (the odd and eccentric cluster) compared with other nonpsychotic patients. Poor insight levels within OCD increase disease severity and impair neuropsychological factors, where OCD patients exhibit poorer speech learning and memory.

To assess schizotypal, autistic traits, and insight levels in patients with OCD.

Forty subjects with OCD were recruited from outpatient clinics of Kasr Alainy Psychiatry and Addiction Prevention Hospital and assessed using the Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (DYBOCS), Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief Revised (SPQ-BR), and Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) while insight level was assessed using Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale (BABS).

Total DY-BOCS score was positively correlated with the AQ score and SPQ score. Global distress and interference subdomains of DY-BOCS were positively correlated with AQ, SPQ score, and Insight level (BABS). Indicating that the worse the insight the higher the distress and interference in daily life. Global distress and interference were also positively correlated to all subscales of SPQ. Aggressive obsessions were correlated with SPQ score, cognitive-perceptual (CP) traits, ideas of reference, and magical thinking. Contamination/cleaning obsessions were positively correlated with the level of insight (BABS). While sexual and religious obsessions were negatively correlated with the level of insight.

Increased severity of OCD is associated with more autistic symptoms, schizotypal symptoms, and poorer insight. No gender differences in OCD patients regarding severity, autistic symptoms, schizotypal symptoms, or insight.