Symptom Heterogeneity in OCD

Abstract

This chapter reviews the most relevant studies using the dimensional approach to describe the range of OCD symptomatology. Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a clinically and etiologically heterogeneous condition. This heterogeneity is problematic because it can make it difficult to interpret the results of clinical, genetic and neuroimaging studies and limits the development of more effective treatment strategies. Recently, a dimensional approach to dealing with the OCD heterogeneity has been proposed. Factor analytic studies have found from three to six obsessive compulsive symptom (OCS) dimensions (or factors), which represent groups of obsessions and compulsions that tend to co-occur. Many authors have reported that these OCS dimensions are similar in children, adolescents, and adults and are temporally stable. The usefulness and validity of this dimensional approach has been proven by studies reporting the association between the OCS dimensions and various genetic, neuroimaging and treatment response variables.