Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the comorbidity of obsessive compulsive disorder and impulse control disorders in patients with alcoholism and evaluate the effects of impulsivity and compulsivity on the severity of alcohol dependence.
Methods: Using SCID-I, we investigated impulse control disorder (ICD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in 81 male patients diagnosed with alcohol dependence. Impulsivity was evaluated using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). The Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (MOCI) and the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) were used to evaluate compulsivity and severity of alcohol dependence, respectively.
Results: There was at least one ICD in 24.6% of the alcohol dependent patients. The most commonly encountered subtype was pathological gambling (16.0%) which was followed by intermittent explosive disorder (6.1%) and compulsive shopping (3.7%). 13.5% of the patients were diagnosed with OCD while OCD at a subclinical level was found in 19.8% of them. 46.9% of the patients presented either with obsessive compulsive traits or ICD or both.
Conclusion: In addition to the evaluation of impulsivity and compulsivity with using scales, OCD and ICD comorbidity was investigated in alcohol dependent patients. Together with the not otherwise specified impulse control disorders, at least one ICD was found in 24.6% of the addicts while 13.5% presented with OCD comorbidity.
Key words: Alcohol dependence, comorbidity, compulsivity, impulsivity
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