Hostname: page-component-6bf8c574d5-xtvcr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-25T10:54:10.887Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Epidemiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 August 2018

P. E. Bebbington
P. E. Bebbington*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences (Whittington Site), University College London Medical School, Archway Wing, Whittington Hospital, London N19 5NF. Tel: +44 (0) 171 288 3551; Fax: +44 (0) 171 288 3411
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background Although the concept of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has long been established, research diagnostic criteria are relatively recent developments. This is partly because the symptoms of OCD occur in the context of other disorders and it is arguable to what extent they are relatively discrete phenomena.

Method Review of the existing epidemiological surveys based on standardised instruments.

Results Nine population surveys using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule have given data on OCD, with six-month prevalences ranging from 0.7 to 2.1%. The British National Survey of Psychiatric Morbidity based on the CIS – R gave a one-month prevalence of 1% in males and 1.5% in females. Community surveys show an excess of females and emphasise the early age of onset. Minor obsessional symptoms are considerably more common than OCD itself.

Conclusions OCD is fairly rare in the general population, but causes considerable distress to those who suffer from it.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 173 , Issue S35: New perspectives in research and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder , August 1998 , pp. 2 - 6
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

American Psychiatric Association (1994) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edn) (DSM-IV). Washington, DC: APA.Google Scholar
Bebbington, P. E. (1994) The epidemiology of depressive illness. In Psychopharmacology of Depression (eds Montgomery, S. A. & Corn, T. H.), pp. 1–18. Oxford: Oxford Medical Publications.Google Scholar
Bebbington, P. E., Hurry, J., Tennant, C., et al (1981) The epidemiology of mental disorders in Camberwell. Psychological Medicine, 11, 561–580.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bland, R. C., Newman, S. C. & Orn, H. (1988) Period prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Edmonton. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavia, 77 (suppl. 338), 33–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blazer, D., George, L. K., Landerman, R., et al (1985) Psychiatric disorders: a rural/urban comparison. Archives of General Psychiatry, 42, 651–656.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brunetti, P. M. (1977) Rural Vaucluse: two surveys on the prevalence of mental disorders: summary of data. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 263, 12–15.Google Scholar
Burnham, M. A., Hough, R. L., Escobar, J. I., et al (1987) Six month prevalence of specific psychiatric disorders among Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic whites in Los Angeles. Archives of General Psychiatry, 44, 687–694.Google Scholar
Canino, G. J., Bird, H. R., Shrout, P. E., et al (1987) The prevalence of specific psychiatric disorders in Puerto Rico. Archives of General Psychiatry, 44, 727–735.Google Scholar
Giuffra, L. A. & Risch, N. (1994) Diminished recall and the cohort effect of major depression: a simulation study. Psychological Medicine, 24, 375–383.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hwu, H. G., Yeh, E. K. & Chang, L. Y. (1989) Prevalence of psychiatric disorders inTaiwan defined by Chinese Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 79, 136–147.Google Scholar
Jenkins, R., Bebbinbgton, P. E., Brugha, T., et al (1997) The National Psychiatric Morbidity Surveys of Great Britain: I. Strategy and methods. Psychological Medicine, 27, 765–774.Google Scholar
Karno, M., Hough, R. L., Burnham, M. A., et al (1987) Lifetime prevalence of specific disorders among Mexian Americans and non-Hispanic whites in Los Angeles. Archives of General Psychiatry, 44, 695–701.Google Scholar
Kessler, R. C., McGonagle, K. A., Zhao, S., et al (1994) Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of DSM–111–R psychiatric disorders in the United States. Results from the National Comorbidity Survey. Archives of General Psychiatry, 51, 8–19.Google Scholar
Lewis, G., Pelosi, A. J., Araya, R. C., et al (1992) Measuring psychiatric disorder in the community: a standardized assessment for use by lay-inteviewers. Psychological Medicine, 22, 465–486.Google Scholar
Meltzer, H., Gill, B., Petticrew, M., et al (1995) OPCS Surveys of Psychiatric Morbidity in Great Britain. Report No I. The Prevalence of Psychiatric Morbidity Among Adults Living in Private Households. London: Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.Google Scholar
Myers, J. K.,Weissman, M. M., Tischler, G. L., et al (1984) Six month prevalence of psychiatric disorders in three communities: 1980–1982. Archives of General Psychiatry, 41, 959–967.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oakley-Browne, M. A., Joyce, P. R., Wells, J. E., et al (1989) Christchurch Psychiatric Epidemiology Study, Part 1: Six month and other period prevalences of specific psychiatric disorders. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 23, 327–340.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Regier, D. A., Boyd, J. H., Burke, J. D., et al (1988) One month prevalence of mental disorders in the United States. Archives of General Psychiatry, 45, 977–986.Google Scholar
Robins, L. N., Helzer, J. E., Weissman, M. M., et al (1984) Lifetime prevalence of specific disorders in three sites. Archives of General Psychiatry, 41, 949–958.Google Scholar
Robins, L. N., Wing, J. K., Wittchen, H.-U., et al (1988) The Composite International Diagnostic Instrument. An epidemiological instrument suitable for use in conjunction with different diagnostic systems and in different cultures. Archives of General Psychiatry, 45, 1969–1977.Google Scholar
Robins, L. N. & Regier, D. A. (1991) Psychiatric Disorders in America: the Epidemiological Catchment Area Study New York: The Free Press.Google Scholar
Roth, W. F. & Luton, F. H. (1942) The mental health program in Tennesse. American Journal of Psychiatry, 99, 662–675.Google Scholar
Vázquez-Barquero, J. L., Diez-Manrique, J. F., Pena, C., et al (1987) A community mental health survey in Cantabria: a general description of morbidity. Psychological Medicine, 99, 662–675.Google Scholar
Weissman, M. M., Leaf, P. J., Tischler, G. L., et al (1988) Affective disorders in five United States communities. Psychological Medicine, 18, 141–154.Google Scholar
Wells, J. E., Bushnell, J. A., Hornblow, A. R., et al (1989) Christchurch Psychiatric Epidemiology Study Part I: Methodology and lifetime prevalence for specific psychiatric disorders. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 23, 315–326.Google Scholar
Wing, J. K., Cooper, J. E. & Sartorius, N. (1974) The Measurement and Classification of Psychiatric Symptoms. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (1992) TheTenth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10). Geneva: WHO.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.