title: Symptom dimensions in obsessive-compulsive disorder: phenomenology and treatment outcomes with exposure and ritual prevention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a severe condition with varied symptom presentations. Currently, the cognitive-behavioral treatment with the most empirical support is exposure and ritual prevention (EX/RP); however, clinical impression and some empirical data suggest that certain OCD symptoms are more responsive to treatment than others.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prior work identifying symptom dimensions within OCD is discussed, including epidemiological findings, factor analytic studies, and biological findings. Symptom dimensions most reliably identified include contamination/cleaning, doubt about harm/checking, symmetry/ordering, and unacceptable thoughts/mental rituals. The phenomenology of each of these subtypes is described and research literature is summarized, emphasizing the differential effects of EX/RP and its variants on each of these primary symptom dimensions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To date it appears that EX/RP is an effective treatment for the various OCD dimensions, although not all dimensions have been adequately studied (i.e. symmetry and ordering).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modifications to treatment may be warranted for some types of symptoms. Clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Center for Mental Health Disparities, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, Ky., USA.
authors.forename: Monnica T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mugno
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: Sonya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faber
mesh_terms: D002562:Ceremonial Behavior; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011322:Primary Prevention