This book sets out to give a detailed account of the subtypes of obsessive–compulsive disorder and to consider whether there exists a spectrum of such disorders. The subtypes presented in Part I include those that will be familiar to most, such as fears of contamination, checking and unacceptable obsessive thoughts, and others like scrupulosity that may be less known. Each chapter details the symptoms and the empirical support of the inclusion as well as available treatments. Part II seeks to include a number of disorders in the obsessive–compulsive spectrum that are currently classified elsewhere in DSM–IV. The chapter layout is similar to Part I and the disorders range from the impulse-control disorders to tics and the autism spectrum.

Each chapter uses a case vignette to illustrate the disorder or subtype in question and its treatment. These are helpful in clarifying some of the more unusual presentations and are generally succinct. Some of the treatment examples are long and I found it difficult to stay interested, although those practising psychological therapies regularly may find these more useful. The treatment sections are predominantly related to psychological approaches and focus largely on cognitive and behavioural approaches. There are a few chapters where no medical intervention is mentioned in the treatment, despite giving differential diagnosis of mental illness, but for the most part medication is included, if only to point out the lack of evidence for its efficacy. The book is generally easy to read and chapters can be read in isolation if a particular subject is of interest, as much of the general information on classification and treatment is repeated regularly.

The preface suggests that this book is aimed at students, researchers and practitioners. Given the significant slant towards psychology, it is more likely to appeal to practitioners in this area, although doctors in training may find some of the vignettes useful. I was not convinced that all the disorders could be included within the obsessive–compulsive spectrum, but the authors gave balanced arguments throughout and acknowledge the lack of clinical evidence available to them.