Obsessive-compulsive disorder in callers to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America.
BACKGROUND
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic, impairing and often comorbid disorder.


METHODS
1000 subjects who called the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) were surveyed and divided in three groups: (a) callers with OCD (OCD) and two overlapping control groups: (b) callers with no axis I disorder (NAC) and (c) with no-OCD (NOC) using a 97-item questionnaire.


RESULTS
The rate of OCD was 14.5% (N = 145). Relative to the NOC group, OCD subjects were more likely to be female, White, younger and not married. Relative to the NAC group, subjects with OCD were more likely to be White, not married and younger. OCD was accompanied by significant comorbidity and was associated with an increased number of visits to health professionals than NAC subjects. There was no significant difference regarding unemployment rates among the three groups. However, OCD callers were more likely than both control groups to have missed work or have decreased productivity due to their mental condition. OCD subjects took an average of 1 psychotropic medication in the past year and were statistically more likely than the control groups to experience sleepiness and nervousness as side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
OCD was fairly prevalent among ADAA callers and presented high levels of comorbidity, impairment, health care utilization and sensitivity to psychotropic side effects.
Hidalgo
Rosario B
RB
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
Ross
Jerilyn
J
Davidson
Jonathan R T
JR
D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009939:Organizations, Nonprofit / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs