Obsessive-compulsive disorder: diagnostic and treatment issues

This article reviews current issues in the diagnosis and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The introduction of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and of cognitive-behavioral therapy were significant advances for treating OCD. Nevertheless, there is a need to improve awareness of OCD and its management, and to develop novel approaches to treatment-refractory patients. Although the diagnostic criteria for OCD have remained unchanged for some time, there are several areas where potential modification may be useful. There is a growing evidence base on OCD symptom dimensions and subtyping, and it is timely to consider incorporating some of these emerging data into diagnostic classification systems.