Main description:

This book summarizes scientific advances in our understanding of the interrelationship between obsessive-compulsive symptoms and schizophrenia and reflects on the implications for future research directions. In addition, guidelines are provided on practical assessment, diagnosis and treatment interventions, covering both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. The book acknowledges the need for a perspective that recognizes heterogeneous subgroups and diverse neurobiological explanations; accordingly, multidimensional research-based conceptual frameworks are provided that incorporate recent epidemiological, neurocognitive, neurogenetic and pharmacodynamic findings. Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Schizophrenia has been written by an international team of experts who offer insights gained through their extensive experience. It will be an invaluable guide to this frequent and clinically important comorbidity and will be particularly useful for mental health practitioners.

Contents:

Part I: From diagnostic categories to multidimensional concepts in psychiatry

1. Co-Morbid Psychiatric Disorders in Schizophrenia: More Than Just a Chance Co-Occurrence

2. Comorbid psychiatric disorders in OCD: the spectrum concept

Part II: Phenomenology

3. Clinical presentation of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patients with psychotic disorders (Psychopathological concepts, differential diagnosis and symptom presentation)

4. Epidemiology: Prevalence and clinical characteristics of obsessive-compulsive disorder and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patients with psychotic disorders

5. OCD with schizotypal personality disorder ("Schizotypal OCD")

6. Associations of comorbid OCS with psychotic and affective symptoms and general functioning

Part III: Neurobiology

7. The neurocognitive and behavioural impact of comorbid obsessive-compulsive syndrome in schizophrenia

8. Gene-environment interactions in the pathogenesis of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in schizophrenia

9. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms in schizophrenia: Neurophysiological and neuroimaging findings

10. Effects of antipsychotic treatment on obsessive-compulsive symptoms

Part IV: Therapy

11. Polypharmacy for obsessive-compulsive symptoms in schizophrenia: augmentation and combination strategies

12. Cognitive behavioural therapy for co-occurring obsessive-compulsive symptoms

Part V: Directions of further research