Frequency of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) in medical students and their possible association with a history of repeated pharyngitis

Abstract

Introduction: obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by obsessions and related compulsions, with a prevalence of 2.5 % in the general population and a predominance in men (3:1). Despite numerous hypotheses, its aetiology remains unknown. This study explored the frequency of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) among second-year medical students at the University of Buenos Aires, and investigated its possible association with a history of repeated pharyngitis. Materials and methods: this study involved a sample of 494 Physiology and Biophysics students from 2023. The participants completed self-administered questionnaires assessing demographic data, medical history, and the DOCS questionnaire for the assessment of OCD. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, and statistical analyses including chi-square, odds ratio, and multivariate logistic regression were performed using IBM SPSS®. Results: among the 494 participants analyzed, the frequency of OCS was 26.92 %. Bivariate analysis revealed associations between SOC and gender, recurrent sore throat in childhood, and recurrent sore throat in adulthood. Multivariate analysis confirmed the association between SOC and recurrent sore throat in adulthood, challenging the notion that PANDAS manifests primarily during childhood. Conclusion: this study suggests a possible link between immune-mediated OCD and repeated streptococcal infections in adulthood, emphasizing the need for further research on specific antibodies and therapeutic interventions. These findings open avenues for larger, more focused studies to validate these results and explore new therapeutic strategies.