How Common is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
About 2.3% of Americans or 3.3 million people have OCD every year. OCD affects about the same number of men and women. OCD usually starts in early childhood or adolescence. Obsessive compulsive disorders cost the US economy over 8.4 billion dollars in 1990 from social and economic losses. About 6% of all mental health services are for treatment of OCD. Symptoms of this disorder often occur in early childhood. What Are Some of the Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? • Nagging doubts (Did I ____?) • Preoccupation with dirt and germs • Doing things in a certain pattern • Following rigid rules of order • Having arrange things in a certain order • Repeated hand washing What Causes OCD? Growing research findings show that OCD has a neurological (nerves) basis. People with OCD reveal certain patterns of brain activity than people who do not have OCD. What Treatments Are Available for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? Medications and behavioral therapy have proven to be very effective for
