Higher prevalence of obsessive–compulsive spectrum disorders in rheumatic fever

Abstract Objective This study aims to compare the prevalence of obsessive–compulsive spectrum disorders (OCSD) in psychiatric outpatients with and without a history of rheumatic fever (RF). Methods An analytical cross-sectional study assessing a large sample of consecutive psychiatric outpatients at a Brazilian private practice was conducted during a 10-year period. Psychiatric diagnoses were made by a senior psychiatrist based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition . Best-estimate diagnosis procedure was also performed. Results The total sample comprised 678 subjects, 13 of whom (1.92%) presented with a previous history of RF. This group showed a higher prevalence of subclinical obsessive–compulsive disorder ( P =.025) and OCSD ( P =.007) when compared to individuals with no such history. Conclusions A previous history of RF was associated with OCSD. These results suggest that clinicians should be encouraged to actively investigate obsessive–compulsive symptoms and related disorders in patients with a positive history of RF.