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Objective: Relative to other mental disorders, the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in the general population is not well established. Some epidemiological surveys have determined the prevalence of DSM-III OCD, but this is one of the first reports, to the authors' knowledge, of DSM-IV OCD's prevalence. Method: Data from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and WellBeing, a nationally representative epidemiological survey of mental disorders, were analyzed. The prevalence and associated characteristics of DSM-IV OCD were identified, and then the data were rescored for DSM-III OCD. Cases defined by each system were compared. Results: The 12-month prevalence of DSM-IV OCD was 0.6%, considerably less than found in surveys employing DSM-III diagnostic criteria. DSM-IV OCD showed significantly higher levels of comorbidity, disability, health service use, and treatment received. Conclusions: Changes in the reported prevalence and severity of OCD between DSM-III and DSM-IV cases are most likely a function of the differences in diagnostic criteria between DSM-III and DSM-IV.

This exploratory study investigated the effect of interventions designed to improve compliance and reduce dropout rates during the outpatient treatment of pathological gambling at a University-based gambling treatment clinic. Forty subjects (29 males, 11 females, mean age = 37.6) meeting DSM-IV criteria (APA, 1994) for pathological gambling were randomly assigned to either a cognitive-behavioural treatment or a cognitive-behavioural treatment combined with interventions designed to improve treatment compliance. Compliance was indicated by the completion of all treatment sessions. Outcome measures were DSM-IV criteria assessed by structured clinical interview, South Oaks Gambling Screen scores, and percentage of income gambled. Logistic regression analyses identified pretreatment characteristics predicting compliance and outcome. Compliance-improving interventions significantly reduced dropout rates, resulting in superior outcomes at posttreatment compared to the cognitive behavioural treatment alone. At 9-month follow-up, there was no difference in outcome between treatments, although both produced clinically significant change. Comorbid problem drinking, drug use, and problem gambling duration predicted poor compliance. Poor outcome was predicted by comorbid problem drinking. The clinical implications of these results are discussed in light of the exploratory nature of the study and the need for future research to address compliance, outcome, and comorbidity issues.

Body dysmorphic disorder, a distressing and impairing preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect in appearance, is an intriguing and under-recognized disorder that has only recently been systematically studied. Recent research findings indicate that body dysmorphic disorder is relatively common, causes notable distress and impairment in functioning, and is associated with markedly poor quality of life. Available data on treatment response, while still limited, suggest that serotonin-reuptake inhibitors and cognitive-behavioral therapy are often effective for body dysmorphic disorder. Further research is needed on all aspects of this understudied and severe mental disorder.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disordersand International Classification of Diseases classification systems. A growing trend in the literature has been to link obsessive-compulsive disorder with a broad range of other disorders loosely described as the obsessive-compulsive disorder spectrum of disorders on the basis that these disorders share clinical features, comorbidity, aetiological factors and treatment response. Examination of the evidence would indicate that there are significant differences between these conditions and that many of the spectrum disorders share a vulnerability to anxiety and depressive disorders rather than to obsessive-compulsive disorder per se.

Eye-movement desensitisation has been identified in a number of case studies to be an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A further case study reporting success is presented. The treatment appears rapid and may represent a potentially cost-effective treatment for PTSD. However, no treatment study to date has conformed to the ideal methodology of a double-blind placebo controlled trial and therefore its efficacy remains to be demonstrated. A minimal but stringent set of criteria for identification of treatment efficacy are outlined. The implications of eye-movement desensitisation being identified as an effective treatment for PTSD are discussed.

In the last three decades effective treatments for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) have become available. Pharmacotherapy of OCD results in a significant reduction of symptoms. Behaviour therapy, while producing similar or better results, has the added advantage that some patients remain well in the absence of continuing treatment. Despite significant advances in the treatment of OCD, aetiological and prognostic factors remain unclear. The relationship of OCD to other disorders also remains uncertain. It is clear that considerably more research is warranted before any conclusions regarding the development of OCD and its relationship to other disorders can be drawn.

Both eating disorders (EDs) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) are disorders of body image. This study aimed to assess the presence, predictive utility, and impact of clinical features commonly associated with BDD in women with EDs.