Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by consistent and unwanted intrusive thoughts (obsessions). These obsessions often lead to anxiety, prompting people to engage in repetitive patterns of behaviours known as compulsions. OCD is a common disorder, that impacts millions of people around the world. In fact, research suggests that almost 1 in 40 adults in the US suffers from OCD,
In this article, we are going to look at the statistical prevalence of OCD in India
OCD in India
There has been limited research on the prevalence of OCD in India. However, the data from the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) conducted in 2016 suggests that almost 0.6% of Indians suffer from some form of OCD. However, newer data suggests that the prevalence of OCD in India can be as high as 2 to 3.3%, but additional research may be required to validate these claims.
OCD in Children And Adolescents in India
The prevalence of OCD among children in India hasn’t been subject to a lot of research. However, the findings with limited research have been interesting
A study was conducted in 2015 in schools of Kerela to investigate the prevalence of OCD among adolescents aged 12-18 years. This study included almost 7,500+ students from 73 schools in Kerela. Based on the study, researchers found that the prevalence of OCD among adults was 0.8% The researchers also found that the prevalence of OCD was higher among males as compared to females and OCD symptoms were likely to increase with age. Additionally, the research also found that adolescents with OCD were also likely to have ADHD and other issues such as stress and poor academic performance.
Another study conducted in 2022 studied the clinical profile of children with OCD.aged below 12 years and found that the onset of OCD can be as early as 6 years of age. The research also found that almost 50% of children diagnosed with OCD had a family member with OCD or another mental health condition. Another significant finding was that OCD can be comorbid with tic disorder, depression or conduct disorder.
OCD in Adults in India
A study conducted in 2017 among college students in Kerela suggested that the prevalence of OCD among college students aged 18-25 was 3.3%. The research also found that the prevalence of OCD was slightly higher in males (3.5%) as compared to females (3.2%). The most common symptoms of OCD in the population of 5784 students were mental rituals and taboo thoughts. Additionally, the study also found that students with OCD had higher rates of psychological stress, tobacco use suicidality and sexual abuse, along with higher scores in ADHD symptoms, suggesting comorbidity
Another study conducted in West Bengal in 2016 investigated the socio-cultural differences among OCD patients. The research concluded that there were no significant differences in the OCS scores of rural, semi-rural or urban populations. However, an interesting finding was that most of the rural and semi-rural populations fell under severe’ OCD scores, while the urban population had ‘extreme’ OCD scores.
Additionally, a 2023 article published in ‘The Times of India’ reported that there was significant growth in mental-health consultations for OCD, particularly after the pandemic, Most of these consultations were taken by people between the ages of 13-35 years, suggesting that OCD is on the rise in the country.
Conclusion:
In summary, OCD seems to be one of the less studied conditions, leading to limited research and data about its exact statistics in India. However, the available data is enough to provide evidence that OCD may be on the rise in India, affecting all populations, from children to adults. OCD also seems to be comorbid with other conditions, such as ADHD and substance use. Overall, the current data indicates that more research and awareness are required to chart the exact prevalence of OCD in India.
References:
- An epidemological study of obsessive compulsive disorder in adolescents from India—ScienceDirect. (n.d.). Retrieved June 24, 2024, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0010440X1500067X
- Increasing cases of OCD and hypochondria worry experts. (2023, June 27). The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/increasing-cases-of-ocd-andhypochondria-worry-experts/articleshow/101294005.cms
- Jaisoorya, T. S., Janardhan Reddy, Y. C., Nair, B. S., Rani, A., Menon, P. G., Revamma, M., Jeevan, C. R., Radhakrishnan, K. S., Jose, V., & Thennarasu, K. (2017). Prevalence and correlates of obsessive-compulsive disorder and subthreshold obsessive-compulsive disorder among college students in Kerala, India. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 59(1), 56–62. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.204438
- Rajith, R. K., & Krishnakumar, P. (2022). Clinical profile of obsessive-compulsive disorder in children. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 11(1), 251. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1328_21
- Reddy, Y. C. J., Rao, N. P., & Khanna, S. (2010). An overview of Indian research in obsessive compulsive disorder. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 52(Suppl1), S200–S209. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.69233
- Rima Das & Souvik Raychaudhuri. (2016). A Study on Patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder from Urban, Semi-Rural and Rural Areas of West Bengal. International Journal of Indian Psychology, 3(4). https://doi.org/10.25215/0304.086
