Should OCD be classified as an anxiety disorder in DSM-V?

Dan J. Stein, Naomi A. Fineberg, O. Joseph Bienvenu, Damiaan Denys, Christine Lochner, Gerald Nestadt, James F. Leckman, Scott L. Rauch, Katharine A. Phillips

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleAcademicpeer-review

164 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In DSM-III, DSM-III-R, and DSM-IV, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was classified as an anxiety disorder. In ICD-10, OCD is classified separately from the anxiety disorders, although within the same larger category as anxiety disorders (as one of the "neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders"). Ongoing advances in our understanding of OCD and other anxiety disorders have raised the question of whether OCD should continue to be classified with the anxiety disorders in DSM-V. This review presents a number of options and preliminary recommendations to be considered for DSM-V. Evidence is reviewed for retaining OCD in the category of anxiety disorders, and for moving OCD to a separate category of obsessive-compulsive (OC)-spectrum disorders, if such a category is included in DSM-V. Our preliminary recommendation is that OCD be retained in the category of anxiety disorders but that this category also includes OC-spectrum disorders along with OCD. If this change is made, the name of this category should be changed to reflect this proposed change
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)495-506
JournalDepression and anxiety
Volume27
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

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