co-morbidities associated with OCD

Last edited 11/2020 and last reviewed 11/2020

comorbidities associated with obsessive compulsive disorder

Comorbid disorders are seen in up to 75% of patients with OCD (1)

Some common comorbid conditions seen in OCD patients include:

  • paediatric population
    • Attention deficit disorder (ADHD)
    • disruptive behavior disorders
    • major depression
    • other anxiety disorders

  • adult population
    • depression 
    • social phobia and other specific phobias
    • alcohol misuse
    • generalised anxiety disorder
    • other related obsessive-compulsive disorders such as body dysmorphic disorder 

Furthermore OCD is more common than would be expected in people with

  • schizophrenia - in about 10%
  • bipolar disorder - in about 10%
  • anorexia and bulimia nervosa - in about 20%
  • Tourette’s disorder - in about 20% (2)

In addition, comorbid conditions in a patient play a role in predicting quality of life (QoL) more so than OCD severity itself in both children and adults (1).

Reference: