ABSTRACT
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by disabling obsessions and=or compulsions. Originally thought to be a rare condition, epidemiologic studies have shown that OCD is the fourth most common psychiatric disorder, more common than schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Onset of symptoms at an early age is common, with up to 80% of adults with OCD reporting symptoms before age 18. A childhood prepubertal variant of OCD can be observed, most often in males, associated with ‘‘sensory’’ compulsions and tics. After puberty, rates of OCD in males and females are similar.
