Are schizophrenics more likely to have OCD?

Schizophrenia is an illness that has continued to rapidly develop in the past few decades, and produces a number of symptoms that affect each individual differently. While medications such as Geodon have proved beneficial for alleviating various traits of the disease, researchers are still discovering new characteristics of schizophrenia today. One recent study has linked the mental disorder with another condition that is known to affect moods and trigger anxiety.

OCD and schizophrenia 
Colleagues from Aarhus University in Denmark have found that people who are diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder seem to have a . While previous studies have explored the similar mental traits both these conditions appear to share, little has been researched specifically on a correlation between these two disorders, which could help improve future forms of treatment for schizophrenia and OCD alike.

To explore this potential link, the researchers analyzed medical record from more than 3 million born within 1955 and 2006, following up with how their health had progressed from 1995 through 2012. Between the initial testing periods, a total of 16,231 people officially developed schizophrenia while 30,556 people total experienced schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Of all those who were clinically diagnosed with the mental illness, 447 (2.75 percent) subjects had been previously diagnosed with OCD. In addition, 700 (2.29 percent) of all the people who dealt with schizophrenia spectrum disorders also had a prior OCD diagnosis.

The data indicated to the researchers that prior diagnosis of OCD was linked to a significant increase in the risk of developing schizophrenia. Another key fact discovered by the colleagues was that children of parents diagnosed with OCD were also noted to have a higher likelihood of schizophrenia.

The researchers acknowledged that both OCD and schizophrenia should never be grouped into one specific diagnosis, but those who have been officially diagnosed with OCD should be aware that their condition could mean a higher chance of experiencing schizophrenia later in life.

"Despite the fact that our results indicate putative overlapping etiological factors of or schizophrenia spectrum disorders, they do not necessarily suggest that these disorders should be aggregated into one global diagnosis," the authors said in a statement. "However, given these findings and the fact that OCD and schizophrenia co-occur with one another at a higher rate than would be expected in the general population, the phenotypes of these disorders are potentially more similar than currently acknowledged."

Managing OCD
Obsessive compulsive disorder is a more common in American adults than schizophrenia, with in the U.S. currently living with the condition, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. OCD is essentially a form of anxiety that features experiences of uncontrollable and unwanted thoughts that typically result in repetitive or ritual behaviors that a person can't help but perform. Everything from spending excessive amounts of time washing themselves, double checking light switches or door locks to hoarding useless items are considered general symptoms of OCD, and the condition can be exhibited in a number of ways.

Treating OCD features a number of the same therapeutic options that are known to be beneficial for schizophrenia. Counseling sessions are known to help those with OCD understand their condition better, and be aware of certain triggers that could prompt repetitive or impulsive behavior. Exercising, socializing and getting plenty of sleep are also well known ways to reduce frequency of symptoms.

When it comes to schizophrenia, Geodon is one of the more trusted forms of medication for handling traits of the illness. Whenever you run out of your prescription, you can always use a Canadian online pharmacy to buy Geodon and continue effectively managing schizophrenia.