Symptom dimensions in obsessive-compulsive disorder: Toward quantitative phenotypes

The authors review evidence of symptom dimensions in obsessive-compulsive d isorder (OCD) and their potential value as quantitative phenotypes in genet ic studies of OCD and related conditions. Preliminary evidence supports the existence of four separate symptom dimensions. A small series of clinical and family genetic studies support the validity of one or more of these dim ensions. However, critical data concerning the distribution of these dimens ions in the general population are lacking, and the hereditability of these traits has yet to be established. Am. J, Med. Genet, (Neuropsychiatr, Gene t.) 105:28-30, 2001, (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.