Comparison of autogenous and reactive type obsessive-compulsive disorders in terms of clinical characteristics: A meta-analysis study

Abstract

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been divided into two subgroups autogenous and reactive types, based on obsessive symptoms. To our knowledge, no meta-analysis study compares sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Investigation of the differences between the two groups in terms of these basic characteristics may provide information about the accuracy of this classification. This is the first meta-analysis to examine gender, age at onset and some clinical differences between patients with autogenous and reactive OCD. Electronic bibliographic databases of Scopus and PubMed were searched up to March 2024. Random effect models were conducted for this meta-analysis. The analysis was carried out using the standardized mean difference as the outcome measure. Publication bias was evaluated using the Begg and Eggers funnel plot, and fail-safe N calculation using the Rosenthal approach. The current meta-analysis summarizes the data from primary studies comparing the gender rates, age at onset of OCD, severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and severity of depression and anxiety symptoms between autogenous and reactive types of OCD. The results of this study showed that the rate of male gender was higher in the autogenous type OCD. In addition, increased severity of anxiety, and depression were associated with autogenous type OCD. There was no significant difference between groups regarding the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Age of OCD onset findings were insignificant, but excluding an outlier study suggested earlier onset in autogenous type OCD. These results support the distinction between autogenous and reactive type OCD.