Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in Adults

by Karen M. Stufflebeam, M.A., Doctoral student at MSPP and Clinician at Family Service Inc.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is categorized as an anxiety disorder according to the American Psychological Association and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. One in fifty adults currently struggle with OCD, which equals out to about one to two percent of the United States population. OCD typically presents itself between the ages of eight and twelve and either re-emerges or presents itself for the first time in the late teens/mid twenties, but can present itself for the first time as late as forty years of age. OCD presents itself equally among adult men and women, but is typically more prevalent in males during the childhood years. OCD symptoms wax and wane over the years, with significant distress from symptoms occurring around stressful times in the individual's life.

Resource Organizations » Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

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In Massachusetts

General Resources on Aging and Wellness

• From Project INTERFACE: Caregiver Resources.
• Geriatric Mental Health Foundation.
• “Older Adults and Mental Health,” from Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General.
• PubMed, a collaboration of the U. S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health, provides a comprehensive list of journal articles regarding mental health and older adults.