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No. 3 (2025)

ORIRGINAL RESEARCH

Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Drug Users: Results of a Cross-Sectional Online Survey

https://doi.org/10.48612/psyph/vzrn-d998-u6u8

Published 2025-09-30

  • I.A. Fedotov
    • ,
  • D.I. Shustov
    • ,
  • A.V. Markov
    • ,
  • A.V. Egoricheva

I.A. Fedotov
Ryazan State Medical University

D.I. Shustov
Ryazan State Medical University

A.V. Markov
LLC “ABA-PETER”

A.V. Egoricheva
Ryazan State Medical University

Abstract

Background. The issue of narcotic drug (ND) abuse remains highly relevant, particularly due to the frequent comorbidity between substance use disorders and other psychiatric conditions.

Aim. This study aimed to explore the clinical and psychological characteristics of drug users in relation to the severity of their obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Materials and methods. The study included 129 drug users (67 women, mean age 28 years; 62 men, mean age 30.5 years) in an observational cross-sectional design using an online survey. The anonymous questionnaire collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, symptoms of drug use, the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10), the Russian-language version of the Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI), and the Mini-SMIL (a Russian adaptation of the abbreviated MMPI).

Results. The sample was divided into two groups according to MOCI scores: 61 respondents (47.3%) scored more than 12 on the MOCI and were assigned to the “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)+” group, while 68 individuals (52.7%) scored 12 or less and were assigned to the “OCD–” group. The “OCD+” group was found to be statistically significantly more likely to use hallucinogens (13.2% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.03) and had higher scores on the drug risk test (7.1 [6.5; 7.7] points vs. 6.3 [5.7; 6.9] points, p = 0.05). A positive, statistically significant correlation was found between MOCI and DAST-10 scores (r = 0.198, p = 0.02). Respondents from the “OCD–” group demonstrated higher levels of ambition (p = 0.03) and originality/uniqueness (p = 0.01) in their personality profiles according to the Mini-SMIL.

Within the “OCD+” group, participants were further subdivided based on the temporal relationship between drug use and the onset of obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms: “primary OCD” (n = 38) and “secondary OCD” (n = 23). No significant clinical or psychological differences were found between these subgroups. Secondary OC symptoms most commonly emerged after the use of a combination of various NDs (43.2%) or stimulants (30.4%). In one-quarter of respondents, these symptoms were short-lived and resolved spontaneously within two weeks, whereas in three-quarters they persisted over the long term. The discussion section outlines the main approaches to and challenges of differential therapy.

Conclusion. Drug users with clinically significant OCD manifestations, compared to those with low levels of OC symptoms, are likely more prone to risky psychoactive substance use, more frequently consume hallucinogens, and exhibit lower scores on personality scales of ambition and originality. The severity of OC symptomatology is positively associated with the risk of drug use. Secondary OCD most commonly develops following the use of combinations of different NDs or stimulants: in one-quarter of cases, symptoms are transient and self-limiting, while in three-quarters they progress to chronic OCD.

Keywords

illicit drugs, drug addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, OCD, comorbidity

PDF (Русский)

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