Assessment of obsessive–compulsive disorder: review and future directions

Abstract

Careful evaluation of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is critical owing to its under-recognition, difficulty ascertaining accurate diagnoses and the need for detailed treatment planning. We review current methods for the assessment of OCD in adults, including unstandardized clinical interviews, standardized diagnostic and other clinical interviews, patient- and family-report measures, and brief or web-based screening measures. Depending upon the question of interest, clinicians and researchers may select from these measures to best assess obsessive–compulsive symptoms in multiple settings. Current research regarding the assessment of OCD has focused on the underlying symptom dimensions, suggesting that each symptom dimension may be associated with different etiology and require tailored treatment. In the future, research may show that effective assessment of OCD involves identification of relevant symptom dimensions to facilitate the choice of appropriate treatment.

Keywords::

• adults
• assessment
• interview
• measure
• obsessive–compulsive disorder
• primary care
• symptom dimensions
• validity

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Kristen Benito has no relevant financial disclosures. Eric Storch receives grant funding from the NIMH, NICHD, All Children’s Hospital Research Foundation, Centers for Disease Control, National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Foundation, Tourette Syndrome Association, Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Foundation for Research on Prader–Willi Syndrome. He receives textbook honorarium from Springer publishers and Lawrence Erlbaum. Eric Storch has been an educational consultant for Rogers Memorial Hospital. Finally, Eric Storch receives research support from the University of South Florida and All Children’s Hospital Guild Endowed Chair. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.