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. 2025 Feb 19;25(1):146.
doi: 10.1186/s12888-025-06567-z.

Obsessive‒compulsive symptoms and associated factors among people with schizophrenia attending services at referral hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia

Abdi Temesgen  1 , Tilahun Abdeta  2 , Daniel Alemu  2 , Kemal Aliye  2 , Abinet Zewudie  3 , Dawit Abdi  2 , Hirko Assefa  2 , Rudwan Yasin  4
Affiliations

Obsessive‒compulsive symptoms and associated factors among people with schizophrenia attending services at referral hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia

Abdi Temesgen et al. BMC Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: Obsessive-compulsive symptoms are mental health conditions marked by the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions. Even though significant portion people with schizophrenia are reportedly affected by obsessive-compulsive symptoms, there is scarce of information related to this topic in Africa, and particularly in study area.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the magnitude and associated factors of obsessive‒compulsive symptoms among people with schizophrenia attending services at referral hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia from February 15 to March 15, 2024.

Methods: An institutional-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among adults with schizophrenia. Systematic sampling was used to select 422 study participants. The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale was used to assess obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Data entry and analysis were performed by EpiData 4.6 and STATA 14, respectively. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were performed, and variables with p values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: The proportion with obsessive‒compulsive symptoms in this study was 44.07% (95% CI, 39.33%-48.92%). After adjusting for possible confounders, duration of schizophrenia from 3-4 years (AOR = 3.41; 95% CI, 1.28-9.05), duration of schizophrenia 5 years and above (AOR = 6.08; 95% CI, 2.26-16.31), current use of alcohol (AOR = 2.12; 95% CI, 1.09-4.12), current use of khat (AOR = 6.09; 95% CI, 3.15-11.74), being a probable case of anxiety (AOR = 3.57; 95% CI, 1.95-6.53), being a probable case of depression (AOR = 4.56; 95% CI, 2.39-8.66), being on Risperidone (AOR = 5.08; 95% CI, 2.52-10.23) and being on Olanzapine (AOR = 5.95; 95% CI, 2.72-13.04) were significantly associated with obsessive‒compulsive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION: The prevalence of obsessive‒compulsive symptoms was relatively high. Timely detection and appropriate interventions are crucial and special consideration is better to be given for those with comorbid substance use, comorbid anxiety and depression, as well as those taking second-generation antipsychotics.

Keywords: Eastern Ethiopia; Obsessive‒compulsive symptoms; Schizophrenia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The proposal was ethically approved, and ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Health Research Ethics Review Committee (IHRERC) of Haramaya University, College of Health and Medical Sciences (Ref. No IHRERC/036/2024). All methods of the study performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Data collectors clearly explained the aim of the study for each study participant. Data were collected after informed, voluntary, written and signed consent was obtained from each participant and the heads of the hospitals. Every participant has the right to refuse or discontinue participation at any time they want. For the issue of confidentiality, the participant’s name was not asked, and all other personal information kept secret. The data collectors provided their signatures for they obtain written consent (fingerprint from those unable to read and write) from study participants before interview. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Schematic representation of the sampling procedure used to recruit people with schizophrenia from referral hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia, 2023
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Types of psychoactive substances used by people with schizophrenia attending services at referral hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia, 2024 (n = 413)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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