Should OCD be classified as an anxiety disorder in DSM-V?
In DSM-III, DSM-III-R, and DSM-IV, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was classified as an anxiety disorder. In ICD-10, OCD is classified separately from the anxiety disorders, although within the same larger category as anxiety disorders (as one of the "neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders"). Ongoing advances in our understanding of OCD and other anxiety disorders have raised the question of whether OCD should continue to be classified with the anxiety disorders in DSM-V. This review presents a number of options and preliminary recommendations to be considered for DSM-V. Evidence is reviewed for retaining OCD in the category of anxiety disorders, and for moving OCD to a separate category of obsessive-compulsive (OC)-spectrum disorders, if such a category is included in DSM-V. Our preliminary recommendation is that OCD be retained in the category of anxiety disorders but that this category also includes OC-spectrum disorders along with OCD. If this change is made, the name of this category should be changed to reflect this proposed change.
Stein
Dan J
DJ
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. dan.stein@uct.ac.za
Fineberg
Naomi A
NA
Bienvenu
O Joseph
OJ
Denys
Damiaan
D
Lochner
Christine
C
Nestadt
Gerald
G
Leckman
James F
JF
Rauch
Scott L
SL
Phillips
Katharine A
KA
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000503:physiopathology; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology