Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Its Potential Subtypes

This manuscript summarizes presentations by an international panel of experts, representing Brazil, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, and the United States, at a symposium, on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and its possible subtypes. Presentations concerned both OCD proper, as well as putative obsessive-compulsive-spectrum disorders (autistic disorders, eating disorders, pathological gambling, and schizo-obsessive disorder). Projects discussed included a study assessing impulsive temperament in eating disorder patients, a study on serotonin. receptor sensitivity in autism, a study of sleep EEG abnormalities tit OCD, a study of dissociation tit pathological gamblers, papers on aspects of schizo-obsessive patients, a study addressing biological alterations lit OCD, data from a new family study on OCD, data from a molecular genetic study of OCD, a factor analytic study of Tourette disorder, a study hypothesizing the existence of an OCD continuum, and, finally, a paper on early- vs late-onset OCD. General discussion followed leading to a consensus that 1) OCD is likely heterogeneous with multiple subtypes; 2) division of patients by age-at-onset probably represents a robust and valid subtyping scheme; 3) the presence of schizophrenic features probably identifies a valid subtype; 4) the validation of subtypes in the future will be informed by both family-genetic studies, as well as studies of biological alterations tit OCD; and 5) the study of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders adds to our understanding of the OCD phenomenon, and helps in our search to identify valid subtypes. CNS Spectrums 2000;5(6)suppl 4:40-46