Some Facts about OCD

[Daniel E.]

The information below is adapted from:
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - CKS Clinical Topics (National Health Service)

Basic facts:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by recurrent obsessional thoughts or compulsive acts or, commonly, both [NICE, 2005].
• The prevalence is 0.8–3.0% in adults, and 0.25–2.0% in children and adolescents [Heyman et al, 2006].
• The mean age of onset is in late adolescence in men, and early twenties in women, but OCD may present at any age [Heyman et al, 2006; National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, 2006].
• OCD is ranked by the World Health Organization in the top ten of the most disabling illnesses by lost income and decreased quality of life [Bobes et al, 2006].
• Undertreated, OCD often persists: one observational study found that at least 48% of people continued to have clinically significant OCD 30 years after diagnosis [Skoog and Skoog, 1999].
• People with OCD often fear stigmatization and fail to disclose their symptoms spontaneously, leading to low rates of recognition and, consequently, undertreatment [National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, 2006].

Common obsessions include:

• Contamination from dirt, germs, viruses (e.g. HIV), bodily fluids or feces, chemicals, sticky substances, dangerous materials (e.g. asbestos) (38%).
• Fear of harm (e.g. door locks are not safe) (24%).
• Excessive concern with order or symmetry (10%).

Common compulsions include:

• Checking (e.g. gas taps) (29%).
• Cleaning, washing (27%).
• Repeating acts (11%).
• Mental compulsions (e.g. special words or prayers repeated in a set manner) (11%).

In children and young people: Young children's obsessional thoughts are more likely to include magical or superstitious thinking (e.g. If I don't count up to 20, my parents will die). Members of the family are almost always involved in a young person's compulsive rituals.

Conditions which can be misdiagnosed as OCD include: Depression or anxiety (although these are often also present), Tourette's syndrome, autism and autistic spectrum disorders, Prader–Willi syndrome, dementia, and schizophrenia.

Support groups and sources of useful information in the UK:

• OCD Action (OCD Action; The Largest and Longest Serving UK National Charity for People Affected by OCD Spectrum Disorders, 0845 390 6232).
• OCD-UK (OCD-UK: Leading UK charity for people affected by obsessive compulsive disorder).
• A website by the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust provides information for young people and their carers (OCD Youth).
• OCD: Further resources for patients and practitioners

(In the U.S., there is the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation.)