unting, repeating words silently) that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly.
(2) The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or are clearly excessive.
B. At some point during the course of the disorder, the person (doesn't apply to a child) has recognized that the obsessions or compulsions are excessive or unreasonable.
C. The obsessions or compulsions caused marked distress, are time consuming, or significantly interfere with the person's normal routine, occupational or academic functioning or usual social activities or relationships.
D. If another Axis I disorder is present, the content of the obsession or compulsion is not restricted to it (e.g., preoccupation with food in the presence of an eating disorder).
E. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effect of a substance or general medical condition.
Some clinical examples of obsessions and compulsions typically experienced by people with OCD are listed in Table 1.
Regarding the prevalence of OCD, it used to be thought of as a rare condition; indeed, in 1969, only about 0.2 percent of the populations in psychiatric hospitals were diagnosed with OCD; however by 1983, this figure had increased to a little over 1 percent (Stoll, Tohen & Baldessarini, 1992). Today, it is estimated that the lifetime prevalence of the disorder is between 2 and 3 percent of the general population (Sue, Sue & Sue, 1994). It is believed that the increase in prevalence is due to the fact that people are more willing to admit that they suffer from the condition (Stoll, Tohen & Baldessarini, 1992).
It should be noted here that one reason why it is important to undertake an exhaustive review of the literature on the t...