Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized with reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and uncontrollable behaviors (compulsions), paralyzing patient’s comprehension and reducing his quality of life. In today’s fast changing world, periodic epidemiological studies on OCD patients are essential to ensure proper clinical diagnosis and treatment for such patients and to promote a healthier and productive society. The objective of study was to get an update on descriptive epidemiology of OCD in local population of Bahawalpur Pakistan.

A retrospective study on prevalence of self-reported OCD in patients age 11-20, 21-30, and 31-40 and above 40 years. Followed by seven months (November 2013-May 2014) longitudinal analysis of clinical predictors of OCD according to DSM-IV criteria as reported in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition.

We found that the OCD prevalence rate is 46% as observed in 480 individuals over the course of seven months. Milder OCD (34%) was most occurring form and cleanness (26%) was most common obsession in OCD patients in Bahawalpur Pakistan. There was no specific pattern in gender distribution of OCD but its prevalence and severity was increased with increase in age, and it was highest in individuals >40 years age (59.5%), followed by 31-40 years (53.5%), 21-30 years (48.5) and 11-20 years (46%). Most of the OCD cases also fall under the criteria of depression, social phobia and stress

The prevalence of OCD seems to be underestimated in local population, perhaps due to cultural and societal reasons. Our analysis suggests that despite the heterogenic nature of the disease there is a significant diagnostic overlap with other DSM disorders. Our data suggest that risk factors such as advance age, family history of depression and stress were found to contribute towards OCD, same as it is previously reported in literature.