Obsessive-compulsive disorder and common comorbidities

Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often have comorbid psychiatric disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, and eating disorders, which present challenges to the treating physician. Symptoms of OCD may have an earlier onset and be more severe in patients with comorbid illnesses than in those with OCD alone. Both cognitive-behavioral therapy (using exposure and response/ritual prevention) and medication may be needed to treat patients with OCD and comorbid mood, psychotic, or eating disorders.