title: Obsessive-compulsive disorder: a concealed diagnosis.
abstract: Epidemiologic data suggest that obsessive-compulsive disorder is the fourth most common mental disorder, after phobias, substance abuse and depression, and is nearly as common as asthma and diabetes mellitus. The understanding of obsessive-compulsive disorder and its treatment have significantly improved over the past decade. Positron emission tomographic scanning has demonstrated characteristic changes in the cerebral metabolism of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been shown to alleviate the symptoms of this disorder. Treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder includes drug therapy, behavior therapy and family therapy. The family physician can play a key role in recognizing the clinical markers of obsessive-compulsive disorder and negotiating a treatment plan that significantly lessens the psychosocial morbidity associated with it.
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester School of Medicine, New York.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Nymberg
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van Noppen
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005194:Family Practice; D005196:Family Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010819:Physician's Role; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
chemical_list: D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors