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Related Experiment Videos

Obsessions and compulsions in the community

G Nestadt1, J F Samuels, A J Romanoski

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.

Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
|April 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary

Obsessions and compulsions affect 1.5% of adults, with links to childhood fears, learning disabilities, and family history of alcoholism. Personality disorders also correlate with these conditions.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Epidemiology
  • Mental Health Research

Background:

  • Obsessions and compulsions (OC) represent a significant area of psychiatric research.
  • Understanding the prevalence and associated factors of OC in the general population is crucial for public health initiatives.
  • Previous research has explored various risk factors, but large-scale epidemiologic studies are essential for robust findings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the prevalence of obsessions and compulsions in an adult urban population.
  • To investigate the relationships between OC and personal characteristics, childhood behaviors, family history, and other psychopathology.
  • To identify potential factors of etiologic importance for obsessions and compulsions.

Main Methods:

  • A total of 810 adults were assessed using a semistructured interview, the Standard Psychiatric Examination.

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  • The study was conducted as part of the Eastern Baltimore Mental Health Survey.
  • Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate associations between OC and various demographic, historical, and clinical variables.

    • Main Results:

    • The estimated prevalence of obsessions and compulsions in the studied population was 1.5%.
    • Individuals with OC were significantly more likely to report childhood fears, learning disabilities, and a family history of alcoholism and suicidal behavior.
    • Positive relationships were observed between scores on compulsive, borderline, and histrionic personality disorder scales and the probability of OC.

    Conclusions:

    • Obsessions and compulsions are present in 1.5% of the adult population studied.
    • Childhood experiences, family history, and specific personality disorders appear to be associated with the development of OC.
    • These findings provide valuable insights into the etiology of obsessions and compulsions, suggesting avenues for future research and potential interventions.