Co-occurrence of obsessive-compulsive personality traits in young and middle-aged Japanese alcohol-dependent men.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Previous studies may have underestimated the potential importance of the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive traits among persons with alcoholism. Although many studies have examined the characteristics of young alcoholics compared with middle-aged alcoholics, none has compared the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive traits in young and middle-aged alcoholics.

METHODS:

This study compared the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive traits (Leyton Obsessional Inventory) and depressive symptoms (Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale) among young (n=41) and middle-aged (n=34) hospitalized Japanese male alcoholics and in young (n=28) and middle-aged (n=25) nonalcoholic subjects.

RESULTS:

Both young and middle-aged male alcoholics reported more obsessive-compulsive personality traits and depressive symptoms than their comparison groups. However, the alcoholic subjects' obsessive-compulsive personality traits were not related to their level of depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS:

Young and middle-aged male Japanese alcoholics have more obsessive-compulsive personality traits than nonalcoholic males of similar ages. Their alcohol-related psychological and behavioral characteristics may derive, in part, from their obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

• Authors: Kenji Suzuki, Taro Muramatsu, Aya Takeda, Katsuyuki Shirakura
• Journal: Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research (Alcohol Clin Exp Res) Vol. 26 Issue 8 Pg. 1223-7 (Aug 2002) ISSN: 0145-6008 [Print] England
• PMID: 12198397 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Alcoholism (epidemiology, psychology)
• Analysis of Variance
• Comorbidity
• Compulsive Personality Disorder (epidemiology, psychology)
• Depression (epidemiology, psychology)
• Humans
• Japan (epidemiology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prevalence