DISEASE SCANNER

Global Incurable Diseases Tracker

Back to Globe
Psychiatric Condition

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

MODERATE

A chronic mental health disorder characterized by uncontrollable, recurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that the person feels compelled to repeat. Often time-consuming and interferes with daily life.

Global Affected

50.0M

Countries

111

Symptoms

Contamination obsessions
Checking compulsions
Intrusive thoughts
Symmetry/ordering compulsions
Hoarding behaviors
Repetitive counting
Mental rituals
Avoidance behaviors
Excessive doubt

Treatment Options

Exposure and response prevention
Cognitive behavioral therapy
SSRIs (high doses)
Clomipramine
Antipsychotic augmentation
Deep brain stimulation
TMS
Gamma knife capsulotomy (last resort)

Risk Factors

1Family history
2Genetic factors
3Brain abnormalities (basal ganglia)
4Stress
5Trauma
6PANDAS/PANS (children)
7Perinatal complications
8Perfectionism
9Religious upbringing (some subtypes)

Diagnostic Methods

  • 1Clinical interview (DSM-5)
  • 2Y-BOCS severity scale
  • 3Dimensional OCD Scale
  • 4Differential diagnosis (OCD spectrum)
  • 5Assessment of insight
  • 6Family history

Prognosis

Chronic course with waxing/waning symptoms. 40-60% respond to SSRIs + ERP. 10-20% treatment-resistant. Early onset (<10 years) has poorer prognosis.

Prevention

  • No known prevention
  • Early intervention
  • Stress management
  • ERP for subclinical symptoms

Research Status

ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) gold standard psychotherapy. SSRIs at high doses. Deep brain stimulation FDA-approved for treatment-resistant. TMS trials ongoing. Research into glutamate modulation (memantine). Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders (PANDAS/PANS).

Affected Countries

United StatesUnited KingdomCanadaAustraliaGermanyFranceItalySpainJapanChinaIndiaBrazilRussiaSwedenNetherlandsBelgiumSwitzerlandAustriaDenmarkNorwayFinlandPolandCzech RepublicHungaryRomaniaBulgariaCroatiaSloveniaSlovakiaLTLVEEIrelandPortugalGreeceCYMTLUIcelandNew ZealandSouth KoreaSingaporeTaiwanHong KongMalaysiaThailandVietnamIndonesiaPhilippinesSouth AfricaNigeriaEgyptTurkeyIranSaudi ArabiaUAEQatarKuwaitOmanJordanLebanonSyriaYemenIraqAfghanistanPakistanBangladeshLKNPMMKHLAMNKazakhstanUzbekistanTMKGTJAzerbaijanAMGEUkraineBelarusMDALBAMEMKSerbiaXKMexicoArgentinaChileColombiaPeruVenezuelaEcuadorUYPYBOCRPAGuatemalaHNSVNIBZJMHaitiDominican RepublicCuba

Sources

  • https://www.cdc.gov/
  • https://www.hematology.org/education/patients
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books
  • https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases

Medical Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult healthcare professionals for medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment.