Obsessive-compulsive disorder in popular magazines

To examine what the general public is learning about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) through popular magazines, all articles listed in the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature under the topic headings of "obsessive-compulsive behavior" or "obsessive-compulsive disorder" between 1983 and 1997 were read and rated. Only 31 of the 107 articles under these headings dealt explicitly with OCD, and these were found to be reasonably accurate in their presentations of symptoms, causes, and treatments. Many of the other articles under the target headings, however, focused on incidents of "stalking" of famous people by "obsessed" fans. The implications of the content patterns of these articles for understanding and misunderstanding of OCD are discussed.