# Study on symptom dimensions and clinical characteristics in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

## TL;DR

This study explores the types of symptoms and clinical features of obsessive-compulsive disorder in a Chinese population.

## Contribution

The study identifies four distinct symptom dimensions of obsessive-compulsive disorder specific to the Chinese cultural context.

## Key findings

- Four symptom dimensions were identified: symmetry precision, contamination cleaning, aggression examination, and taboo thinking.
- Symptom dimensions showed distinct correlations with factors like education, age, and symptom severity scores.
- The findings suggest that symptom dimensions in China are similar to those observed in other regions.

## Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the symptom dimensions and clinical characteristics of obsessive-compulsive disorder in the context of Chinese culture.

In this cross-sectional study, the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, the distribution of symptoms, and symptom scores of 263 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder were assessed using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale and Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory Symptoms Checklist. System cluster analysis and Pearson analysis were performed to explore the relationships between the main clinical characteristics and symptom dimensions.

Cluster analysis identified four symptom dimensions of obsessive-compulsive disorder: (1) symmetry precision; (2) contamination cleaning; (3) aggression examination; and (4) taboo thinking. The symmetry precision dimension showed an association with years of education. The compulsive score, total Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale score, contamination cleaning dimension, and aggression examination dimension had significant relationships. Age, age at onset, obsessive score, and compulsive score had a significant correlation with the taboo-thinking dimension.

The symptom dimensions of obsessive-compulsive disorder in China are similar to those in other regions. Each of the four symptom dimensions had distinct clinical characteristics.