Organicity in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Though pharmacological and/or behavioral interventions have proven highly effective, 20 to 30% of the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) population is treatment refractory. This study describes the OCD clinical profile that is correlated to organicity. Two groups of OCD patients were presented: an organic group and a control nonorganic group. The 9 organic patients exhibit an indifference to their illness, a lack of motivation, are nonanxious even during exposure exercises, are nondepressed, have rigid and concrete thinking, are treatment refractory, and have some type of organic impairment. The 10 nonorganic patients are also treatment refractory but do not exhibit the clinical profile correlated to the organic OCD patients. Furthermore, MRI results indicate that no organic impairment exists in this control group. All of these patients were tried on medication and behavior therapy to no avail. Reasons for lack of response in organic OCD patients, based on cerebral anatomical changes, are discussed.