Comparison between Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Individuals with Symptoms of Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder

Objective: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral nerve entrapment neuropathy and is seen in 3 % of the general population. The aim to this study was examine the relationship between the symptoms of cleaning compulsion with using Moudsley obsessive compulsive inventory ( MOCI ) and patients with CTS. Methods: Sixty patients with CTS and 60 healty controls were evaluated in Bezmialem Vakif University Faculty of Medicine Neurosurgery Clinic. Neurological examination, Electrophysiological findings, the presence of neuropathic pain evaluated by the Leeds assessment of neuropathic symptoms and signs (LANSS) , the symptoms of obsessive- compulsive disorder using with MOCI and anxiety levels assessed by the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were evaluated. Results: No statistically significant relationship was observed between anxiety levels and CTS (p › 0.005). No statistically significant relationship was found MOCI rumination, control and doubting subscale scores (p › 0.005). Patient group had higher MOCI cleaning subscale scores than the control group and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.008). Patient group had higher MOCI slowness subscale scores than the control group and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.004). Conclusion: Increased wrist movement in people that have the symptoms of compulsive cleaning is associated with the risk of CTS. Our study show that a reduction of high level of wrist flexion-extansion movements may decrease the new CTS cases.