Obsessive-compulsive disorder

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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
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Listen to Music Cigarettes Reading
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Clonazepam Lorazepam Alprazolam
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine Multivitamins Naps
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Risperidone Sertraline Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Fluoxetine Sertraline Venlafaxine
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Bach flowers Brainwave Entrainment Bromazepam
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Ibuprofen Tramadol Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen
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.
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Treatments taken by people with obsessive-compulsive disorder

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

(Zoloft)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
29
Tried for
obsessive-compulsive disorder (21) depressed mood (11)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Prozac)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
23
Tried for
obsessive-compulsive disorder (17) depressed mood (12)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Vistaril)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
21
Tried for
anxious mood (19) depressed mood (1)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Talk therapy)
Type
Psychotherapy
How many have tried
21
Tried for
obsessive-compulsive disorder (21)
Treatment name(s)

(Lexapro)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
19
Tried for
anxious mood (10) depressed mood (8)
4 more
Treatment name(s)

(Klonopin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
16
Tried for
anxious mood (14) obsessive-compulsive disorder (2)
Treatment name(s)

(Luvox)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
16
Tried for
obsessive-compulsive disorder (16) depressed mood (4)
Treatment name(s)

(Wellbutrin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
15
Tried for
depressed mood (11) obsessive-compulsive disorder (4)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Celexa)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
11
Tried for
depressed mood (7) obsessive-compulsive disorder (5)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Valium)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
11
Tried for
anxious mood (11)
Data from patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, who reported starting treatments within 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)

(Zoloft)
Perceived effectiveness
for obsessive-compulsive disorder (13 evaluations)
Side effects
decreased appetite diarrhea 16 more
Total evaluations
18
Tried for
obsessive-compulsive disorder (21) depressed mood (11)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Prozac)
Perceived effectiveness
for obsessive-compulsive disorder (16 evaluations)
Side effects
decreased appetite drowsiness 18 more
Total evaluations
24
Tried for
obsessive-compulsive disorder (17) depressed mood (12)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Vistaril)
Perceived effectiveness
for anxious mood (9 evaluations)
Side effects
excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence) grogginess in morning 2 more
Total evaluations
10
Tried for
anxious mood (19) depressed mood (1)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Talk therapy)
Perceived effectiveness
for obsessive-compulsive disorder (17 evaluations)
Side effects
anger feeling abandoned 8 more
Total evaluations
20
Tried for
obsessive-compulsive disorder (21)
Treatment name(s)

(Lexapro)
Perceived effectiveness
for anxious mood (11 evaluations)
Side effects
apathy anxious mood 20 more
Total evaluations
19
Tried for
anxious mood (10) depressed mood (8)
4 more
Treatment name(s)

(Klonopin)
Perceived effectiveness
for anxious mood (7 evaluations)
Side effects
drowsiness dry mouth
Total evaluations
8
Tried for
anxious mood (14) obsessive-compulsive disorder (2)
Treatment name(s)

(Luvox)
Perceived effectiveness
for obsessive-compulsive disorder (7 evaluations)
Side effects
anxious mood brain fog 8 more
Total evaluations
7
Tried for
obsessive-compulsive disorder (16) depressed mood (4)
Treatment name(s)

(Wellbutrin)
Perceived effectiveness
for depressed mood (8 evaluations)
Side effects
agitation with restlessness bipolar I disorder 3 more
Total evaluations
10
Tried for
depressed mood (11) obsessive-compulsive disorder (4)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Celexa)
Perceived effectiveness
for depressed mood (3 evaluations)
Side effects
anxiety attacks blurry vision 11 more
Total evaluations
8
Tried for
depressed mood (7) obsessive-compulsive disorder (5)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Valium)
Perceived effectiveness
for anxious mood (5 evaluations)
Side effects
daytime sleepiness dissociation 3 more
Total evaluations
5
Tried for
anxious mood (11)
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None
Data from patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, who reported starting treatments within the last 5 years.
Last updated:

Who has obsessive-compulsive disorder on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 7 new patients joined this month
  • 661 say OCD is their primary condition
Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 47
20s 622
30s 1274
40s 1234
50s 941
60s 444
70+ 130
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 1252
20-29 years 317
30-39 years 154
40-49 years 73
50-59 years 13
60-69 years 4
70+ years 1

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 1050
Female 3659
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 2387
Not Diagnosed 1810
These charts show data from OCD patients who have completed their condition history
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