Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders – Not Quite OCD… and More Common!

It isn't surprising that patients with obsessive compulsive disorder often get a wrong diagnosis. It's likely due to the fact that obsessive compulsive disorder shares many symptoms with other types of disorders.

This similarity of OCD symptoms has led mental health professionals and therapists to come up with a whole new OCD group called obsessive compulsive spectrum disorders.

Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders – 8 Types

These disorders have qualities that are obsessive compulsive, making them very similar to OCD. Some of these, which are related to other types of anxiety disorder, are:

1. Hypochondriasis – This shows itself as an irrational, obsessive fear that you may have a certain medical condition or disease.
2. Phobia - Recurring, senseless fear of a certain situation, object, or animal.
3. Panic Disorder - Panic attacks, followed by an excessive, persistent fear of experiencing more attacks.
4. Social Anxiety – Intense, debilitating shyness and fear of social and/or performance situations.
5. Body Dysmorphic Disorder – Senseless preoccupation with some defect or flaw in your appearance (that may or may not exist).
6. Trichotillomania – Repeated compulsion to pull at your hair, despite it resulting in obvious hair loss.
7. Compulsive Skin-picking – Repeated habit of picking at your skin, even when it already causes damage.
8. Olfactory Reference Syndrome – Excessive worry you are emitting an unpleasant or foul body odor.

Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders – Treatment with CBT

The most effective treatment for obsessive compulsive spectrum disorders is cognitive behavior therapy. Some clinical studies show success rates for CBT to be as high as 70%.

While some studies show CBT to be effective on its own, others couple it with exposure-response prevention therapy to register these high success rates. More statistical data is clearly needed to support this method of therapy.

Following are examples of how CBT is used to treat obsessive compulsive spectrum disorders.

1. The patient is given the chance to identify which factors contributed to the obsessive compulsive behavior patterns.
2. The patient is allowed to set reasonable goals in dealing with obsessions and/or compulsions.
3. The patient is assisted in pinpointing if certain thinking patterns are causing obsessive compulsive behavior.
4. The patient will be taught to recognize behavior patterns and how to change the way he/she will react to certain impulses or situations.
5. The patient will be encouraged to gradually gain control over these impulses through certain strategies, such as delayed response.

Do you feel you display any of the symptoms described in the 8 common types of obsessive compulsive spectrum disorders listed above? If you have been unsuccessful in dealing with the problem, you may want to study CBT techniques along the lines suggested above or see a qualified therapist in your area.