Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders

Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders OCD Types Print Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders By Owen Kelly, PhD Updated on July 23, 2019 Carla G/Getty Images More in OCD Types Causes Symptoms and Diagnosis Treatment Living With OCD Related Conditions There are a number of disorders that dont technically meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), yet they have very similar symptoms  The DSM-5 has a whole chapter dedicated to these similar disorders entitled Obsessive-Compulsive Related Disorders, also known as obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders. The obsessive-compulsive spectrum includes different clusters of symptoms that are similar to, but not exactly the same as, OCD symptoms. Often (but not always) the only difference between OCD and a given obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder is the specific focus of the obsessions and/or compulsions. Here are the disorders the DSM-5 includes in the chapter regarding obsessive-compulsive related disorders. Body Dysmorphic Disorder Body dysmorphic disorder is a form of mental illness in which the person is obsessed and/or preoccupied with an imagined defect or what they perceive as something abnormal in their appearance. It has to sufficiently impair the persons quality of life or cause extreme distress in order to be diagnosed. It is similar to OCD because both illnesses involve repetitive checking. Skin Picking (Excoriation Disorder) Pathologic skin picking, also called excoriation disorder, is one of several disorders classified as body-focused  repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). Its  a mental illness in which the person compulsively picks or digs into the skin with fingers, pins, tweezers, or other items to remove small irregularities such as moles or freckles. Although classified as an impulse control disorder, skin picking is similar to OCD in that sufferers of both illnesses engage in repetitive behaviors, usually because they feel uncomfortable.   Trichotillomania Trichotillomania (TTM) is another BRFB in which the affected person repeatedly pulls out hair from any part of the body for non-cosmetic reasons, resulting in noticeable hair loss. Like skin picking and other BRFBs, TTM is similar to OCD in its repetitive behaviors. Hoarding Disorder Pathological or compulsive hoarding is a specific type of behavior characterized by acquiring and failing to throw out a large number of items that would appear to have little or no value to others, severe cluttering of the person’s home so that it is no longer able to function as a viable living space and significant distress or impairment of work or social life. While hoarding is no longer considered a subtype of OCD, it has similar characteristics, such as spending a large amount of time collecting, arranging, and putting items in order. The chief difference between hoarding and OCD is that hoarders often dont have insight into how serious their disorder really is. A Correct Diagnosis Is Essential for Effective Treatment Just like any illness, its extremely important that you are being treated for the right disorder. Treatments may vary depending on which disorder you are diagnosed with, which means being diagnosed incorrectly can waste valuable time, money, energy and even prolong your suffering. If you think you may have a different disorder than the one you have been diagnosed with, be sure to talk to your physician.