Clinical screening for obsessive-compulsive and related disorders

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), and related disorders (OCDs) are often missed in evaluations.
• High comorbidity exists with affective, anxiety, eating, and substance use disorders, as well as schizophrenia.
• Increased prevalence is noted in secondary healthcare settings, highlighting a public health priority for improved identification and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review arguments for implementing screening strategies for OCDs in clinical practice.
• To address pragmatic challenges, including the scarcity of validated screening instruments.
• To identify optimal settings for screening within medical practice.

Main Methods:

• This study is a narrative review.
• It examines the rationale for screening OCDs in clinical settings.
• It considers practical aspects of screening tool availability and deployment.

Main Results:

• Screening appears logical in settings where individuals with OCDs are concentrated.
• However, empirical evidence demonstrating clinical and social benefits, such as reduced morbidity, is currently lacking.
• Pragmatic issues like the availability of suitable screening instruments require attention.

Conclusions:

• Further research is essential to confirm healthcare settings with high OCD/BDD concentrations.
• Evaluating the utility of specific screening instruments for reducing disease burden is crucial.
• Validation and reliability assessments of screening tools across diverse populations are necessary.