Mood instability in people with obsessive compulsive disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality traits

• Individuals with MI are more likely to have an OCD diagnosis.
• We found an association between OCP traits and the presence of MI.
• Looking at MI in individuals with OCD and OCP could lead to improved treatment.

BackgroundThis study examines the association of mood instability (MI) with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and obsessive-compulsive personality (OCP) traits.MethodsData was from 2000 and 2007 British Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Surveys. MI was assessed with a self-reported question about sudden mood changes and with the mood reactivity criterion of the borderline personality disorder assessment done by an interviewer, both from the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID-II). OCD diagnosis was established using the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised. OCP traits were self-reported responses to 8 questions from SCID-II.ResultsIndividuals assessed with MI by both methods separately are more likely to have an OCD diagnosis (OR: 7.28, 95% CI: 3.94–13.45) and (OR: 9.88, 95% CI: 3.90–25.03). The association remained significant when we controlled for depression and excluded OCD cases with comorbid psychiatric disorders. Individuals with MI are more likely to report OCP traits (OR: 9.88, 95% CI: 3.90–25.03). Except for moral scrupulosity, MI is associated with all other OCP traits (p<.01). The proportion of individuals with MI increased linearly with number of OCP traits.ConclusionsMI is common in people with OCD and OCP traits. Further understanding of MI in people with OCD and OCP traits could lead to improved treatment.