OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER AND ALCOHOL-ABUSE

In this study we investigated the coexistence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and alcohol abuse. In a sample of 87 OCD patients 23 were alcohol abusers. The comparison between the alcohol abusing and non alcohol abusing OCD group revealed that the alcohol abusers were mainly male, older and married, The duration of the disorder was longer for the alcohol abusers and the precipitating factors more likely to exist. After the end of their treatment more alcohol abusers developed new OCD symptoms, although the treatment outcome was not affected by the use of alcohol. Our findings indicate a high comorbidity of OCD and alcohol abuse (26,4%). The excessive use of alcohol by these patients supports the hypothesis that alcoholism is not a sequence of OCD and the use of alcohol, at least at the beginning, has probably an antianxiety purpose.