Obsessive-compulsive disorder epidemiology and demographics
|
Obsessive-compulsive disorder Microchapters |
|
Differentiating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder from other Diseases |
|---|
|
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder due to Another Medical Condition |
|
Diagnosis |
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Obsessive-compulsive disorder epidemiology and demographics On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Obsessive-compulsive disorder epidemiology and demographics |
|
FDA on Obsessive-compulsive disorder epidemiology and demographics |
|
CDC on Obsessive-compulsive disorder epidemiology and demographics |
|
Obsessive-compulsive disorder epidemiology and demographics in the news |
|
Blogs on Obsessive-compulsive disorder epidemiology and demographics |
|
Directions to Hospitals Treating Obsessive-compulsive disorder |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Obsessive-compulsive disorder epidemiology and demographics |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Epidemiology and Demographics
In a 1980 study of 20,000 adults from New Haven, Baltimore, St. Louis, Durham, and Los Angeles, the lifetime prevalence rate of OCD for both sexes was recorded at 2.5%.
Education also appears to be a factor. The lifetime prevalence of OCD is lower for those who have graduated high school than for those who have not (1.9 percent versus 3.4 percent). However, in the case of college education, lifetime prevalence is higher for those who graduate with a degree (3.1 percent) than it is for those who have only some college background (2.4 percent). As far as age is concerned, the onset of OCD usually ranges from the late teenage years until the mid-20s in both sexes, but the age of onset tends to be slightly younger in males than in females.[1]
Violence is very rare among OCD sufferers, but the disorder is often debilitating to their quality of life. Also, the psychological self-awareness of the irrationality of the disorder can be painful. For people with severe OCD, it may take several hours a day to carry out the compulsive acts. To avoid perceived obsession triggers, they also often avoid certain situations or places altogether.
It has been alleged that sufferers are generally of above-average intelligence, as the very nature of the disorder necessitates complicated thinking patterns.
References
- ↑ Antony, M. M.; F. Downie & R. P. Swinson. "Diagnostic Issues and Epidemiology in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder". in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Theory, Research, and Treatment, eds. M. M. Antony; S. Rachman; M. A. Richter & R. P. Swinson. New York: The Guilford Press, 1998, pp. 3-32.