When we were planning this issue, several friends and readers were a bit surprised. "A whole issue on OCD? Is there anything new to say about it?" There's plenty to say that's both new and old.

When it comes to a neuroanatomical understanding of psychiatric symptoms, OCD is considered the superstar of the field. A wealth of data has implicated the involvement of a specific neuroanatomical loop in OCD.

You're a cutting edge psychiatrist. Not only are you great with meds, but you have a passing knowledge of CBT (cognitive-behavior therapy) techniques for the treatment of OCD. Sorry. You're already behind the curve.

First of all, Dr. Koran, I can't resist plugging your marvelous book on OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders in Adults: A Comprehensive Clinical Guide, 1999, Cambridge University Press). It's readable and chock-full of great information. How did you get into the field of OCD?

The symptoms of OCD have been known for a long time. Who can forget Lady Macbeth at the sink, scrubbing away at the imagined evidence of her guilt. But the term obsessive-compulsive disorder is a relatively recent one.