Diagnosis and therapy of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders in general medical and neurological practice

Abstract

Obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders are widely represented in the population and often encountered in clinical practice, but they are not well diagnosed and many patients do not receive proper treatment. This review discusses the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, their negative impact on the level of functioning of patients, comorbidity with other mental disorders, diagnosis and differential diagnosis. The emphasis is put on changes in approaches to the diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorders that will occur after the introduction of the International Classification of Diseases of the 11th revision (ICD-11). Approaches to the treatment of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders are discussed in accordance with the principles of evidence-based medicine, and the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and cognitive behavioral therapy as first-line therapy is justified.