The Case for the OCD Spectrum

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder with an often chronic course that is estimated to have a lifetime prevalence rate of 1.9–3% in the United States (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). However, a substantially greater percentage of the population has symptoms that overlap with OCD and may be included within the so-called obsessive-compulsive spectrumdisorders (OCSDs).OCD and OCSDs are characterized by obsessions, defined as recurrent and intrusive thoughts, impulses, or images that cause marked distress, and/or compulsions, which are repetitive behaviors performed in response to an obsession (American Psychiatric Association, 2000; Hollander & Wong, 1995a). As is shown in Figure 5.1, OCSDs may be subdivided into three basic clusters: (1) neurological disorders with repetitive behaviors, (2) impulse control disorders, and (3) body image, body sensation, and body weight concern disorders.