Citation

Weissman MM. CNS Spectr. 1998; 3(S1): 6-9.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, MBL Communications)

DOI

10.1017/S1092852900007136

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The results of this cross-national comparison of epidemiologic data can be summarized as follows: 1) The lifetime (range, 1.9-2.5) and annual (range, 1.1-1.8) prevalence rates (cases per 100) of obsessive-compulsive depression was not an exclusion for OCD in this study. Cases of major depression with secondary obsessions could inflate the female rates of OCD. Nevertheless, the sex ratios as described remained in a reanalysis of these data, excluding OCD subjects with primary major depression. 2) Mean age at onset (in years) was reasonably consistent across sites (21.9-35.5). Direct studies of adolescents support the early onset of OCD and suggest rates may be even higher in young people than reported. 3) Obsessive-compulsive disorder had a substantial comorbidity with major depression and other anxiety disorders at each site. The frequency of obsessions and compulsions varied by country. The majority of persons with OCD reported only obsessions at all sites, except for Munich and Taiwan, where obsessions and compulsions were almost equally frequent, and in Korea, where persons with OCD reported more compulsions than obsessions. Comorbid OCD may be associated with neurological soft signs. These data suggest several areas of further research. Why are the rates of OCD as well as other psychiatric disorders so much lower in Taiwan than in other sites, including another Asian site (Korea)? The high rates of OCD in studies directly assessing adolescents also require study. Further studies are needed to better understand the relationship between conduct disorder, antisocial personality, and OCD and to clarify the nature of cognitive impairments in OCD. The remarkable consistency in rates, age at onset, and comorbidity of OCD across diverse countries lends further support to the validity of the diagnosis of OCD. The early age of onset, relatively high prevalence, and comorbidity and the suggestion of an association with childhood conduct disorder and suicide attempts demonstrate the morbidity of OCD. © 1998, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.

Language: en