The relation between depressive and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in obsessive-compulsive disorder: Results from a large, naturalistic follow-up study.

Objective: Despite the frequent occurrence of depressive symptoms in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), little is known about the reciprocal influence between depressive and obsessive-compulsive symptoms during the course of the disease. The aim of the present study is to investigate the longitudinal relationship between obsessive-compulsive and depressive symptoms in OCD patients.

Method: We used the baseline and 1-year follow-up data of the Netherlands Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Association (NOCDA) study.

Intensive behavioral therapy for agoraphobia.

Background: We investigated the efficacy of an intensive 1-week behavioral therapy program focusing on agoraphobia for panic disorder patients with agoraphobia (PDA).

Design And Methods: The study design was a case-control study. Main outcome measure was the agoraphobia score of the Fear Questionnaire (FQ-AGO).

Therapygenetics: 5-HTTLPR genotype predicts the response to exposure therapy for agoraphobia.

This study was intended to assess the extent to which the low-expression allele of the serotonin transporter gene promoter predicts better response to exposure-based behavior therapy in patients with panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA). Ninety-nine patients with PDA underwent a 1-week in vivo exposure-based behavior therapy program and provided saliva samples to extract genomic DNA and classify individuals according to four allelic forms (SA, SG, LA, LG) of the 5-HTT-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR). We determined whether the 5-HTTLPR genotype predicted change in avoidance behavior in PDA following treatment.

Cigarette smoking and 35% CO(2) induced panic in panic disorder patients.

Background: A disproportionately large number of persons with panic disorder (PD) smoke cigarettes compared to people in the general population and individuals with other anxiety disorders. Clinical and epidemiological data suggest that cigarette smoking increases the risk for the development and maintenance of PD. The carbon dioxide (CO(2)) challenge is well established as experimental model for panic.

Sleep complaints in panic disorder patients.

Patients with anxiety disorders often report difficulty sleeping. The present study assesses the prevalence of sleep complaints in panic disorder (PD) patients, compares them with sleep complaints in a normal population, and investigates the role of comorbid depression and nocturnal panic attacks in sleep complaints in the PD patients. Seventy PD patients and 70 healthy controls were asked about their subjective sleep characteristics by means of the Sleep-Wake Experience List, which assesses sleep/arousal complaints over a 24-hour period.

Experimental affective symptoms in panic disorder patients.

Objective: To date, carbon dioxide (CO2) challenge tests in panic disorder (PD) patients have focused on anxiety as the sole outcome measure. This study assesses a broader range of symptoms in patients with PD.

Method: We administered a gas mixture of 35% CO2 and 65% oxygen (O2) to 25 patients with PD.

Blood-injury related phobic avoidance as predictor of nonresponse to pharmacotherapy in panic disorder with agoraphobia.

Background: Several factors have been investigated as possible predictors of nonresponse to pharmacotherapy in Panic Disorder (PD) patients. In 1995 a study was published by Slaap et al. in this journal that found high Blood-Injury phobia scores on the Marks and Matthews Fear Questionnaire were predictive for a worse treatment-outcome for drug treatment in PD.

Acute L-5-hydroxytryptophan administration inhibits carbon dioxide-induced panic in panic disorder patients.

Previous research showed that lowering the availability of serotonin to the brain by tryptophan depletion increases the vulnerability of panic disorder patients for an experimental 35% CO(2) panic challenge. The results also suggested that increased availability of serotonin inhibits the response to such a challenge. In the present study, this latter possibility is examined.

Comorbidity of obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression: prevalence, symptom severity, and treatment effect.

Background: The goal of this study was to investigate the co-occurrence of depressive disorders in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and the effect of these disorders on combined pharmacologic and behavioral treatment for OCD.

Method: A retrospective chart analysis was performed on baseline ratings of 120 OCD patients and posttreatment ratings of 72 of these patients. For depressive symptoms, the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and the Self-Rating Depression Scale were applied; for obsessive-compulsive symptoms, the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale and the Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Inventory were used; and for general anxiety symptoms, the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, the Clinical Anxiety Scale, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were given.