From OC Spectrum to Anxiety Disorders

Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (OCRDs) consist of a cluster of impairing psychological conditions including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), hoarding disorder, hair-pulling disorder (i.e., trichotillomania), skin-picking disorder (i.e., excoriation), and other specified and unspecified OCRDs (American Psychological Association, 2013). Across OCRDs and anxiety disorders, there is considerable overlap in symptomatology, theorized mechanisms, and evidence-based treatment approaches. However, there is significant heterogeneity in the presentation and functional relationships between symptoms across OCRDs, as well as important nuances to consider in the assessment, diagnosis, conceptualization, and treatment of OCRDs and anxiety disorders. As such, the present chapter provides an overview of (1) the diagnostic criteria and cognitive-behavioral conceptualization of OCRDs, (2) considerations for functional assessment and differential diagnosis among OCRDs and anxiety disorders, and (3) a discussion of empirically supported interventions and relevant treatment considerations for these conditions.