Defining+OCD

//**__Challenges to Treatment and Classification: What is within the OCD Spectrum?__ **//

Defining OCD has been difficult and is a complicated process to reach a proper diagnosis, but also in providing treatment. One of the major concerns amidst leading psychiatristric research involves the classification of OCD as an anxiety disorder (Mataix-Cols __et al,__ 2007). This is a significant debate, as the DSM operates primarily as a categorized classification system (Reid __et al__, 1995)



Since the cause of the disorder is related to obsessions and compulsions, the majority (75%) of psychiatrists supported change; authors that were polled from the American Journal of Psychiatry support the reclassification (Mataix-Cols, 2007). There is further confusion on what to include if a new classification for Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum disorder was supported (Mataix-Cols, 2007). It remains unclear whether or not to include a personality disorder in the new category ie. Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (Mataix-Cols __et al__, 2007).

The main distinction between OCPD (the personality disorder) and OCD (the disorder) is that while those with OCD know they are having intrusive thoughts, they don't believe the thoughts are true.In the case of the personality disorder, the intrusive ideas are taken to be accurate and valid (ie. they take them as truth) (Varvick //__et al__//, 2011).

There is consensus that within the new version of the DSM (fifth edition), there will be five categories for OCD classification (Mataix-Cols, 2007): 1) contamination/cleaning 2) symmetry /order/counting 3) hoarding 4)harm obsessions and checking 5) sexual and religious delusions The emphasis will be placed on keeping OCD Spectrum Disorder narrowed in scope (Mataix-Cols __et al,__ 2007).