Study on Obsessive Compulsive Phenomenology in a Sample of Egyptian Adolescent Population

Background and Objectives: Obsessive symptoms among children and adolescent age groups are increasing, according to mental health professionals who work with this age group. The goal of our epidemiological study was to determine the prevalence of obsessive symptoms, obsessive compulsive disorder, and the various obsessive compulsive components among secondary school students.

Methods: The study is cross-sectional and involved 1299 secondary school students; the sample size was determined based on an estimated Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) prevalence of 2% in literature. Equal samples were taken from each of Alexandria Governorate's three educational zones. The Arabic version of the Lyeton obsessive inventory child version LOI-CV was used to evaluate obsessive compulsive symptoms. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children MINI-KID Arabic was administered to students who scored higher than 35.Patients with OCD who were identified by MINI-KID underwent a psychiatric interview to ensure that they met the criteria of OCD according to DSM IV –TR criteria. A standardised questionnaire was used to examine various obsessive compulsive symptoms.

Results: Among the studied sample (n = 1299), 201 students scored > 35 on LOI-CV i.e. 15.5% of the total sample have OCS. The prevalence of OCD was 2.2 % in the study sample, with 29 students from the OCS students meeting DSM-IV TR diagnostic criteria for OCD. Excessive conscience (65.5%), blasphemy (55.2%), repeated words (51.7%), and sexual obsessions (48.2%) were the most common obsessive symptoms.

Conclusions: The adolescent age group has a significant prevalence of obsessive compulsive symptoms. To better comprehend obsessive phenomenology, cultural effect should be explored, emphasising the importance of OCD research from a transcultural perspective.

Early detection and management may be aided by public awareness and screening in the high school population.