Concepts and Controversies in Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

Few syndromes in psychopathology generate as much popular curiosity and clinical exploration as does obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Since the 1970s, research on OCD has increased exponentially. Speci?c advances include an improved grasp of the heterogeneity of the disorder, identi?cation of putative subtyping schemes, and the development of increasingly sophisticated theoretical models of the etiology and maintenance. Perhaps most importantly, research has led to advances in treatment; andwhereasthe?rstlinetherapies(cognitive-behaviortherapyandserotonergicm- ication) are not entirely effective for every sufferer, they have transformed OCD from an unmanageable lifetime af?iction into a treatable problem that need not reduce quality of life. Despite the aforementioned advances, there have emerged a number of sharp disagreements concerning OCD. Differences have surfaced over phenomenological issues, etiological models, and approaches to treatment, and often occur (but not exclusively) along disciplinary lines between biologically oriented and cogniti- behaviorally oriented authorities. For example, medical approaches posit that abn- mal biological processes cause OCD, whereas psychosocial formulations emphasize the role of learning and dysfunctional cognitions. Yet because theoretical conjecture andempirical?ndingsfromwithineachtraditionaretypicallyaddressedtowardd- tinct and narrow audiences, clinicians, researchers, and students with broad interests are hindered from gaining a clear grasp of the diverse (and sometimes polarized) perspectives.

Jonathan S. Abramowitz, Ph.D., ABPP, is Associate Professor and Director of the OCD/Anxiety Disorders Program at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. He conducts research on OCD and other anxiety disorders and has published over 50 journal articles and book chapters. He also maintains an active consultation and clinical practice. He serves on Advisory Boards for the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation and Anxiety Disorders Association of America and has received awards from the American Psychological Association, National Institutes of Health, Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation, and Mayo Clinic.

Arthur C. Houts, Ph.D., was Professor and Director of Clinical Training at The University of Memphis until he retired in 2003 to work full time at The West Clinic, a large oncology center in Memphis, TN. He has published broadly in adult and child clinical psychology, as well as in the field of science studies. Dr. Houts is currently developing technology to provide better quality of life assessment in cancer care and is building a research network of oncology practices for clinical trials.