Prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia treated with clozapine: a scoping review

Abstract Background Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder, and in patients treated with clozapine, it may induce or exacerbate obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS), which negatively affect patients’ quality of life, functionality and treatment adherence. Despite its clinical relevance, the...

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Main Authors: Evelyn Moreno Tarazona, Mauricio Orozco Gonzalez, Andrea La Rosa Giron, Paulo Ruiz-Grosso, Maria Lazo-Porras
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:BMC Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-06466-9
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author Evelyn Moreno Tarazona
Mauricio Orozco Gonzalez
Andrea La Rosa Giron
Paulo Ruiz-Grosso
Maria Lazo-Porras
author_facet Evelyn Moreno Tarazona
Mauricio Orozco Gonzalez
Andrea La Rosa Giron
Paulo Ruiz-Grosso
Maria Lazo-Porras
author_sort Evelyn Moreno Tarazona
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder, and in patients treated with clozapine, it may induce or exacerbate obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS), which negatively affect patients’ quality of life, functionality and treatment adherence. Despite its clinical relevance, the reported prevalence and characteristics of clozapine associated OCS vary widely, limiting effective management. Objective This scoping review synthesizes evidence on the prevalence of OCS in patients with schizophrenia treated with clozapine and explores treatment characteristics (types, severity, dose, and time to onset/exacerbation). Methods The PRISMA-ScR methodology guided the search in PubMed, LILACS, Embase, and Scielo. Observational studies in Spanish, English, Portuguese, and French reporting prevalence, incidence, or frequency of OCS in patients over 18 years with schizophrenia treated with clozapine were included. Clinical, qualitative studies, and those with access restrictions were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using JBI tools. Results Fourteen studies were included, reporting OCS prevalence between 20% and 76%, and de novo OCS between 4.8% and 46.4%. Clozapine dose ranged from 196 to 525 mg/day, and treatment duration from 5 to 210 months. The most common obsessions were aggression and checking, with severity ranging from mild to moderate. Conclusions The prevalence of OCS in patients treated with clozapine varies widely. Further research is needed to clarify the relationship between dose, treatment duration, and the onset/exacerbation of OCS.
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spelling doaj-art-884ffc81e85e4d2687b2ad22eae96fe52025-01-26T12:46:40ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2025-01-0125112610.1186/s12888-024-06466-9Prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia treated with clozapine: a scoping reviewEvelyn Moreno Tarazona0Mauricio Orozco Gonzalez1Andrea La Rosa Giron2Paulo Ruiz-Grosso3Maria Lazo-Porras4Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Peruana Cayetano HerediaFacultad de Medicina, Universidad Peruana Cayetano HerediaFacultad de Medicina, Universidad Peruana Cayetano HerediaFacultad de Medicina, Universidad Peruana Cayetano HerediaFacultad de Medicina, Universidad Peruana Cayetano HerediaAbstract Background Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder, and in patients treated with clozapine, it may induce or exacerbate obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS), which negatively affect patients’ quality of life, functionality and treatment adherence. Despite its clinical relevance, the reported prevalence and characteristics of clozapine associated OCS vary widely, limiting effective management. Objective This scoping review synthesizes evidence on the prevalence of OCS in patients with schizophrenia treated with clozapine and explores treatment characteristics (types, severity, dose, and time to onset/exacerbation). Methods The PRISMA-ScR methodology guided the search in PubMed, LILACS, Embase, and Scielo. Observational studies in Spanish, English, Portuguese, and French reporting prevalence, incidence, or frequency of OCS in patients over 18 years with schizophrenia treated with clozapine were included. Clinical, qualitative studies, and those with access restrictions were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using JBI tools. Results Fourteen studies were included, reporting OCS prevalence between 20% and 76%, and de novo OCS between 4.8% and 46.4%. Clozapine dose ranged from 196 to 525 mg/day, and treatment duration from 5 to 210 months. The most common obsessions were aggression and checking, with severity ranging from mild to moderate. Conclusions The prevalence of OCS in patients treated with clozapine varies widely. Further research is needed to clarify the relationship between dose, treatment duration, and the onset/exacerbation of OCS.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-06466-9Obsessive-compulsive disorderSchizophreniaClozapinePrevalence
spellingShingle Evelyn Moreno Tarazona
Mauricio Orozco Gonzalez
Andrea La Rosa Giron
Paulo Ruiz-Grosso
Maria Lazo-Porras
Prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia treated with clozapine: a scoping review
BMC Psychiatry
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Schizophrenia
Clozapine
Prevalence
title Prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia treated with clozapine: a scoping review
title_full Prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia treated with clozapine: a scoping review
title_fullStr Prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia treated with clozapine: a scoping review
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia treated with clozapine: a scoping review
title_short Prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia treated with clozapine: a scoping review
title_sort prevalence of obsessive compulsive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia treated with clozapine a scoping review
topic Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Schizophrenia
Clozapine
Prevalence
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-06466-9
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