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Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
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How common is obsessive-compulsive disorder?
We can't say exactly how many people get obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). People who have it don't always go to their doctors for help. And doctors don't always diagnose it correctly

But it is quite common. At any one time in the United States, between 1 in 100 and 2 in 100 adults have symptoms of OCD.1 2 3 Between 2 in 100 and 3 in 100 people get OCD at some point in their lives.3

OCD is more common in women than in men.3

OCD can start in childhood, but doctors often have difficulty spotting it.4 OCD is usually noticed in people between 20 and 30.5 Most people who have OCD show symptoms by the time they're in their 30s.5 6 But people who have it don't always go to their doctors for help. And doctors don't always diagnose it correctly.4 6



Sources for the information on this page:
  1. Bebbington PE. Epidemiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder. British Journal of Psychiatry. 1998; 35: 2-6. 9829020
  2. Singleton N, Bumpstead R, O'Brien M, et al. Psychiatric morbidity among adults living in private households 2000. The Stationery Office, London, UK; 2001.
  3. Horwath E, Weissman MM. The epidemiology and cross-national presentation of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2000; 23: 403-507. 10909116
  4. Fourneret P, El Idrissi SM, Boutiere C, et al. Diagnosis and therapeutic current approach of obsessive compulsive disorder in children. Archives of Pediatrics. 2004; 11: 285-294. 14992781
  5. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Medline Plus: obsessive-compulsive disorder. February 2008. Available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000929.htm (accessed on 21 August 2008).
  6. Jenike M. Clinical Practice: obsessive-compulsive disorder. New England Journal of Medicine. 2004; 350: 259-265. 14724305
This information was last updated in Sep 04, 2008