Three types of obsessive compulsive disorder in a community sample

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Previous obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) prevalence estimates relied on clinical data.
• Current research examines OCD prevalence in the general adult population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the point prevalence of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
• To investigate demographic factors associated with OCD.
• To identify the prevalence of specific ritual-based OCD subtypes.

Main Methods:

• A structured interview was administered to 497 adults in the greater St. Louis area.
• The interview assessed symptoms according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition (DSM-III) criteria.
• Prevalence rates for checking, repeating/counting/collecting, and washing compulsions were calculated.

Main Results:

• The overall prevalence of OCD in the general population was 2.8%.
• Checking compulsions were the most prevalent subtype (1.6%), followed by repeating/counting/collecting (1.0%), and washing (0.8%).
• Individuals with OCD were more likely to reside in the city compared to the general sample.

Conclusions:

• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is more prevalent in the general population than previously estimated.
• Checking compulsions represent the most common form of OCD in nonclinical samples.
• Findings suggest a need to re-evaluate OCD prevalence based on population studies rather than solely clinical data.