"It Doesn't Matter Where OCD Comes From," or Does It?

This review critically evaluates the claim that etiology is not relevant to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Research on the clinical presentation and treatment outcomes associated with traumatic/stressor and biological etiologies is presented.

The extant literature demonstrates varying clinical utility across the reviewed etiologies. Traumatic/stressor etiologies show the most consistent and robust evidence of clinical utility, demonstrating compelling associations with clinical presentation and treatment outcomes, while also being amenable to existing evidence-based approaches. Medical conditions (e.g., Pediatric Acute onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) and neurobiological factors also demonstrate considerable associations with OCD presentation, yet effective treatments are more variable. Genetics research is still emerging, with unclear clinical utility based on presently available treatments. Etiology has variable clinical utility for OCD. We argue that some etiological mechanisms become maintenance factors that are relevant treatment targets, and call for continued research in these emerging domains.