The obsessive-compulsive spectrums

The obsessive-compulsive spectrum is a fascinating construct that has captured the interest of researchers and clinicians alike. This spectrum, which consists of disorders proposed to have similarities to obsessive-compulsive disorder, can be considered to have several subspectra: a compulsivity/impulsivity spectrum and a delusionality spectrum. This article reviews evidence, including treatment response, that pertains to these spectra. It concludes that these constructs are powerful and useful heuristics with potential validity and clinical utility but that more research is required to demonstrate their validity and incorporate them into our classification system.