What is OCD?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a neuro-biological disorder. The hallmark of OCD is the presence of recurrent, intrusive thoughts, impulses, or images (obsessions) or repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions). Common symptoms include contamination fears, excessive hand washing, horrific thoughts and images, and checking and counting rituals. These fears, phobias, and rituals can devastate a person's life. Related disorders frequently coexist with OCD, including depression, anxiety disorders, Tourette's Syndrome, and Attention Deficit Disorder.

The NIMH survey showed that OCD affects more than 2 percent of the population, meaning that OCD is more common than such severe mental illnesses as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or panic disorder. OCD strikes people of all ethnic groups. Males and females are equally affected.

Although OCD symptoms typically begin during the teenage years or early adulthood, recent research shows that some children develop the illness at earlier ages, even during the preschool years. Studies indicate that at least one-third of cases of OCD in adults began in childhood.