OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER - A CONCEALED DIAGNOSIS

Epidemiologic data suggest that obsessive-compulsive disorder is the f ourth most common mental disorder, after phobias, substance abuse and depression, and is nearly as common as asthma and diabetes mellitus. T he understanding of obsessive-compulsive disorder and its treatment ha ve significantly improved over the past decade. Positron emission tomo graphic scanning has demonstrated characteristic changes in the cerebr al metabolism of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Selectiv e serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been shown to alleviate the sympt oms of this disorder. Treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder inclu des drug therapy, behavior therapy and family therapy. The family phys ician can play a key role in recognizing the clinical markers of obses sive-compulsive disorder and negotiating a treatment plan that signifi cantly lessens the psychosocial morbidity associated with it.