What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent, persistent obsessions or compulsions. Obsessions are the intrusive ideas, thoughts, or images and compulsions are repetitive and seemingly purposeful behavior generally recognized as senseless.

How do members experience obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with obsessive-compulsive disorder*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for obsessive-compulsive disorder*

*Data from patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with obsessive-compulsive disorder*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Luvox)
Perceived effectiveness
for obsessive-compulsive disorder (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
obsessive-compulsive disorder (7)
Treatment

(Prozac)
Perceived effectiveness
for obsessive-compulsive disorder (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
obsessive-compulsive disorder (3)
Treatment

(Talk therapy)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
obsessive-compulsive disorder (3)
Treatment

(Anafranil)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
obsessive-compulsive disorder (2)

*Data from patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has obsessive-compulsive disorder on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 72
20s 468
30s 1,225
40s 1,367
50s 1,211
60s 701
70+ 287

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 1,176
Female 4,095

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What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent, persistent obsessions or compulsions. Obsessions are the intrusive ideas, thoughts, or images and compulsions are repetitive and seemingly purposeful behavior generally recognized as senseless.



Common symptoms reported by people with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for obsessive-compulsive disorder

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Luvox)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
196
Treatment name(s)

(Prozac)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
774
Treatment name(s)

(Talk therapy)
Type
Psychotherapy
How many have tried
1,645
Treatment name(s)

(Anafranil)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
116

Data from patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:


Compare treatments taken by people with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Luvox)
Perceived effectiveness
for obsessive-compulsive disorder (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Treatment name(s)

(Prozac)
Perceived effectiveness
for obsessive-compulsive disorder (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Treatment name(s)

(Talk therapy)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Treatment name(s)

(Anafranil)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:



Who has obsessive-compulsive disorder on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 19 new patients joined this month
  • 843 say OCD is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 72
20s 468
30s 1,225
40s 1,367
50s 1,211
60s 701
70+ 287
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 1,261
20-29 years 318
30-39 years 157
40-49 years 77
50-59 years 14
60-69 years 4
70+ years 1

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 1,176
Female 4,095

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 2,422
Not Diagnosed 1,806

These charts show data from OCD patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: