The OCD spectrum disorder revisited. Toward a bipolar impulsion-compulsion configuration

The so-called obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder (OCD spectrum) is represented by a large variety of clinical entities. There are in general obsessive-compulsive disorder, trichotillomania or Gilles de la Tourette disease among the impulse control disorders, body dysmorphic disorder and hypochondriasis among the somatoform disorders. Updated overview of the OCD spectrum through a bipolar configuration with the impulsion-compulsion (I-C) spectrum, characterized by a failure to resist and control intrusive thoughts associated with repetitive behaviors that seem to be uncontrollable or require considerable efforts to suppress their execution. There are several disrupted processes in the I-C spectrum, including cognitive control, flexibility and behavioural inhibition. All these psychiatric affections demonstrated to shore apparent similarities regarding clinical symptomatology, demographic considerations, comorbidity and course pattern, and responses to the serotonine reuptake inhibitors and cognitive behavioural therapy. The concept of I-C spectrum pleads for less categorical and more dimensional approach that seems to be consistently adapted to clinical, genetic, pathophysiology and therapeutic realities.