Obsessive-compulsive disorder

This article discusses the neurobiology, clinical features, and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), as well as its association with psychiatric and neurologic disease.

OCD can be associated with various neurologic disorders. Recent studies have better elucidated the neurobiology of OCD, and this new knowledge promises to have a significant impact on future treatments.

OCD is a syndrome characterized by obsessions and compulsions, as well as other neuropsychiatric features, and is often associated with primary psychiatric disorders and various neurologic conditions. If severe, OCD can seriously interfere with the patient's quality of life. The mainstay of treatment is psychotherapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy, and pharmacologic interventions, especially with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Unfortunately, a significant proportion of patients are refractory to these treatment modalities. New understanding about the neurobiology of OCD has led to novel investigational treatments, especially neuromodulation techniques.