Obsessive-compulsive disorder in dermatology.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a very common disorder affecting 2% to 3% of the general population. Up to 25% of patients presenting to physicians with skin disease suffer from OCD. Only 20% of all patients with OCD are receiving treatment. Unfortunately, those few receiving treatment remained undiagnosed for many years. Standard treatment includes behavioral therapy and psychotropic drugs (ie, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors and clomipramine). The highest dosages of these medications must be used for at least 3 months to see proper effectiveness and maintained for lengthy periods of time. Not only are there abnormalities in the serotonin pathway of patients with OCD but also the glutamate pathway is abnormal, leading to possible new treatment strategies.