What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? (OCD)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common mental health condition in which the person experiences recurrent distressing obsessional thoughts or doubts which cause intense anxiety. The intense anxiety forces the person to engage in repetitive rituals (compulsions) in order to reduce the anxiety. However, rather than reducing anxiety, carrying out the rituals paradoxically increases the anxiety by reinforcing the person’s underlying fears. Most of us experience obsessions and compulsions occasionally. Some people set themselves extremely high standards. Most of these people are successful. Indeed, some extremely successful people do have the obsessive traits of high-achievement, meticulousness, punctuality, extreme neatness or cleanliness and traits such as striving for perfection and meticulous hygiene can be seen to have a survival advantage. In OCD, however, these tendencies, rather than working to the advantage of the individual, have become an end in themselves with the sufferer feeling compelled to perform compulsions even to the detriment of everything else in life.
Prevalence
Recent studies report prevalence rates of 0.8% in adults and 0.25% in 5-15 year old children although earlier studies suggested rates as high as 1-3% in adults and 1-2% in children and adolescents.
The most common age of onset is either in adolescence or early adult life. It may however occur for the first time in childhood (as young as 6 years) or in old age.
The ratio of affected men to women is approximately 1:1. Women are more likely to suffer from compulsive washing and avoidance, while checking rituals are more common in men.
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Amended June 2008
