Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders in Adults: A Comprehensive Clinical Guide

From our regular book review column.

This book is truly cause for giving thanks, and, appropriately, this review is being written after a wonderful Thanksgiving meal, with serotonin levels high on Aunt Betty’s superb turkey. I can’ t find any real gripe or even a quibble to focus on, and it’s not just because my plasma tryptophan levels are up. Koran has accomplished a phenomenal state-of-the-art compilation of current knowledge in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders. The author clearly and concisely presents a master’s view of diagnosis, psychotherapy, and psychopharmacology for a set of common but difficult pathologies.The tone and utility remind me of the more general, spiral-bound volumes by Schatzberg and Cole that are a benchmark for clinical psychopharmacology. Koran’s monograph at least matches, and in many ways surpasses, their work, especially in practical discussions of therapy issues. This is very high praise.