IMPULSE CONTROL DISORDERS : NOSOLOGY AND CONCEPT

Impulse control disoders have long been recognized. Although included in nosological systems since two decades, their diagnostic validity individually, as well as a category remains in question. Conceptually, these have been linked to variety of other psychiatric or medical disorder viz. OCD, affective disorders, addictive disorders, organic mental conditions etc, but systematic studies have not been done. The present review focuses on the nosological and conceptual evolution of these disorders and highlights the overlap and boundaries with other psychiatric disorders.