OCD Types Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders By Owen Kelly, PhD Owen Kelly, PhD Owen Kelly, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, professor, and author in Ontario, ON, who specializes in anxiety and mood disorders. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 01, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Akeem Marsh, MD Medically reviewed by Akeem Marsh, MD LinkedIn Twitter Akeem Marsh, MD, is a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist who has dedicated his career to working with medically underserved communities. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Carla G/Getty Images There are a number of disorders that don't technically meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, they have very similar symptoms. The DSM-5 has a whole chapter dedicated to these similar disorders entitled "Obsessive-Compulsive Related Disorders," also known as obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders. The obsessive-compulsive spectrum includes different clusters of symptoms that are similar to, but not exactly the same as, OCD symptoms. Often (but not always) the only difference between OCD and a given obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder is the specific focus of the obsessions and/or compulsions. What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? Here are the disorders the DSM-5 includes in the chapter regarding obsessive-compulsive related disorders. Body Dysmorphic Disorder Body dysmorphic disorder is a form of mental illness in which the person is obsessed and/or preoccupied with an imagined defect or what they perceive as something abnormal in their appearance. It has to sufficiently impair the person's quality of life or cause extreme distress in order to be diagnosed. It is similar to OCD because both illnesses involve repetitive checking. Skin Picking (Excoriation Disorder) Pathologic skin picking, also called excoriation disorder, is one of several disorders classified as body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). It's a mental illness in which the person compulsively picks or digs into the skin with fingers, pins, tweezers, or other items to remove small irregularities such as moles or freckles. Although classified as an impulse control disorder, skin picking is similar to OCD in that people with both illnesses engage in repetitive behaviors, usually because they feel uncomfortable. Trichotillomania Trichotillomania (TTM) is another BRFB in which the affected person repeatedly pulls out hair from any part of the body for non-cosmetic reasons, resulting in noticeable hair loss. Like skin picking and other BRFBs, TTM is similar to OCD in its repetitive behaviors. Hoarding Disorder Pathological or compulsive hoarding is a specific type of behavior characterized by symptoms including: Acquiring and failing to throw out a large number of items that would appear to have little or no value to others.Severe cluttering of the person’s home so that it is no longer able to function as a viable living space.Significant distress or impairment of work or social life. While hoarding is no longer considered a subtype of OCD, it has similar characteristics, such as spending a large amount of time collecting, arranging, and putting items in order. The chief difference between hoarding and OCD is that individuals that are affected by hoarding often don't have insight into how serious their disorder really is. Effective Treatment Requires an Accurate Diagnosis Just like any illness, it's extremely important that you are being treated for the right disorder. Treatments may vary depending on which disorder you are diagnosed with. Being diagnosed incorrectly can waste valuable time, money, energy and even prolong your suffering. If you think you may have a different disorder than the one you have been diagnosed with, be sure to talk to your physician. Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. http://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/DSM-5-changes http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/psychiatry/calendar/DSM5_presentation_20130830.pdf https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/related-disorders/ By Owen Kelly, PhD Owen Kelly, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, professor, and author in Ontario, ON, who specializes in anxiety and mood disorders. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist for OCD Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.