Coprophagia as a manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder: a case report

J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 1995 Mar;26(1):57-63. doi: 10.1016/0005-7916(94)00065-t.

Abstract

Coprophagia is seen, though uncommonly, in psychiatric hospitals among adult patients with diffuse brain disease and in individuals with subaverage intelligence. We describe here a case of coprophagia in an adult with normal cognitive functioning. Thorough assessment revealed that this coprophagia was a manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The problem behavior responded to a behavioral treatment program comprising exposure and response prevention.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Affective Symptoms / psychology
  • Affective Symptoms / therapy
  • Behavior Therapy / methods*
  • Child
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / psychology
  • Female
  • Guilt
  • Human Coprophagia / psychology
  • Human Coprophagia / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Internal-External Control
  • Male
  • Motivation
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / psychology
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / therapy*
  • Patient Compliance / psychology