Postinfectious and other forms of obsessive-compulsive disorder

The search for subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has led to i ncreased appreciation of the importance of distinguishing early (prepuberta l) versus later onset, and of tie-related versus non-tie related subtypes, as well as postinfectious forms of the disorder. How these apparent typolog ies relate to each other remains to be elucidated. Careful longitudinal cli nical descriptive studies, as well as the ongoing application of genetic, n euroimaging, and immunologic techniques, promise to advance our understandi ng of how genotype and environmental factors interact to produce the divers e clinical forms of OCD and to point the way to more effective treatment.