Study of symptom dimensions and clinical characteristics in Chinese patients with OCD.

Background: The current study explored the main symptom dimensions and clinical characteristics of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in Chinese patients.

Methods: Obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms of participants (N=512) were assessed through the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale Checklist (YBOCS-CL). Exploratory category-level and item-level factor analyses were performed. Regression analysis was carried out to study the relationships between clinical characteristics in our sample and the symptom dimensions obtained. Relationships among the clinical characteristics were explored using the chi-square test.

Results: We found five symptom dimensions in the category-level analysis and six similar symptom dimensions in the item-level analysis. Moreover, the factors identified in our study overlapped with the results of prior studies. Association between gender and the symptom dimension of 'contamination/cleaning' was observed, with females showing more significant association with this dimension than males. Age of onset was associated with the symptom dimension of 'symmetry/arranging/repeating/counting', with the early-onset group more actively associated with this dimension than the late-onset group. Early-onset patients with OCD were more likely to be male and show tic comorbidity.

Limitations: Data from only one site do not represent the full range of Chinese OCD patients. Furthermore, past symptoms may show memory bias. Inherent problems in the YBOCS-CL have also been identified.

Conclusion: Symptoms in Chinese OCD patients are multidimensional. The main components of symptom dimensions of OCD patients show similarity or consistency among different regions and sociocultural backgrounds. The pathogenic mechanism of OCD may show potential distinctions.