OCD has peaks of onset at two different life phases: pre-adolescence and early adulthood. Around the ages of 10 to 12 years, the first peak of OCD cases occur. This time frequently coincides with increasing school and performance pressures, in addition to biologic changes of brain and body that accompany puberty.
OCD can start at any time from preschool to adulthood. Although OCD can occur at any age, there are generally two age ranges when OCD tends to first appears: Between the ages 8 and 12. Between the late teen years and early adulthood.
Symptoms fluctuate in severity from time to time, and this fluctuation may be related to the occurrence of stressful events. Because symptoms usually worsen with age, people may have difficulty remembering when OCD began, but can sometimes recall when they first noticed that the symptoms were disrupting their lives.
Epidemiological studies indicate the mean age at onset of idiopathic OCD is between 20 and 25 years and that only 15% of cases present after the age of 35. Onset of OCD after age 50 is relatively unusual, and information regarding these cases is limited to case reports.
Age at Onset
OCD usually begins before age 25 years and often in childhood or adolescence. In individuals seeking treatment, the mean age of onset appears to be somewhat earlier in men than women.
around 3 per cent of Australians experience OCD in their lifetime.
We don't know for sure what causes OCD, but your family history, psychology, environment, and the way your body works could all play a role. Personality traits like perfectionism may put a person at risk of developing OCD. Stressful life events and psychological trauma may also play a role.
In this nationwide prospective cohort study, the risk of premature death among persons with OCD was doubled compared with the general population.
Genetics, brain abnormalities, and the environment are thought to play a role. It often starts in the teens or early adulthood. But, it can also start in childhood. OCD affects men and women equally.
Twin and family studies have shown that people with first-degree relatives (such as a parent, sibling, or child) who have OCD are at a higher risk for developing OCD themselves. The risk is higher if the first-degree relative developed OCD as a child or teen.
“OCD symptoms can intensify during times of stress or when you feel like life is getting out of control.” People with OCD regularly experience extreme, yet unnecessary, worry. Obsessive and uncontrollable thoughts can interfere with life to the point of serious disruption.
Anxiety: When you have OCD you suffer from constant anxiety about things you may not have done that you must do or vice versa, or very intrusive thoughts that make you anxious wondering about the kind of person you are or becoming.
Unfortunately, OCD doesn't just go away. There is no “cure” for the condition. Thoughts are intrusive by nature, and it's not possible to eliminate them entirely. However, people with OCD can learn to acknowledge their obsessions and find relief without acting on their compulsions.
While genetic variation has a known impact on the risk for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), there is also evidence that there are maternal components to this risk.
While both mental health conditions involve repetitive worrying, people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often engage in unwanted and repetitive behavior in response to their worry. People with anxiety, however, tend to overthink their worry, but don't act in specific responsive manners.
OCD can severely impact a person's life in multifaceted ways. Left untreated, OCD can lead to other severe mental health conditions, such as anxiety and panic attacks, and depression. Untreated mental health conditions are also a significant source of drug and alcohol addiction.
In the long term, living with OCD can be tiring — especially if you're trying to hide it from family, friends, and coworkers — and frustrating if it prevents you from partaking in and enjoying everyday activities. For some, the anxiety and upset can snowball into panic attacks.
Loneliness can worsen the symptoms of OCD. Being alone with your compulsions and obsessions can mean that they just become a bigger part of your life. Initially, it may feel 'safer' to avoid other people, but isolation greatly decreases your chances of managing this condition.
Prevalence of OCD
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), OCD affects approximately 1% of the global population. In the United States, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that 1.2% of adults have OCD.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans conducted to compare the volumes of different brain regions in people with and without OCD have found smaller volumes of the orbitofrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex in individuals with OCD.
The onset of OCD is not limited to the original meaning of trauma; rather, traumatic experiences such as unexpected exposure to contaminants or various stressful life events often cause the onset of OCD.
Harm OCD, for instance, will cause a sufferer to have intrusive thoughts about harming people. They may hide knives away, fearing that they will actually carry out the thoughts. Or maybe they'll refuse to drive, convincing themselves that they'll steer the car into someone.