Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is more common than people realize.
Prior to 1983 OCD was thought to be a relatively rare disorder. Usual estimates for the prevalence of OCD in the general population were in the range of .05%, which would mean that between 125,000 and 150,000 people in the United States would have OCD. In 1983 the National Institutes of Health conducted a national survey to ascertain the frequency of occurrence of various mental health disorders, including OCD. Researchers went from door to door in five different areas of the country and interviewed 18,500 people. With regards to OCD, the results were stunning. The actual prevalence of OCD was found to be between 1.9% and 3.3% of the population, which translates into between 5,700,000 and 9,900,000 people with OCD. It was clear that the prevalence of OCD had been grossly underestimated. We now know that OCD is actually one of the more common mental health disorders, in fact it is the fourth most common disorder behind phobias, substance abuse and depression. While there has been some disagreement about the actual prevalence of OCD, there is general agreement that it is about 1% to 2%. Surveys in other countries have found similar prevalence rates.
Even today, over 20 years after the above survey, there seems to be little awareness about OCD. Other less common disorders are better known to the general public. For example, schizophrenia's prevalence rate is between 0.5% and 1.0%, about one-half of that of OCD, but it seems to be better known. Perhaps part of the problem is that people with OCD are more likely to suffer in silence. People with OCD are often ashamed to admit that they have the disorder, fearing that they will be labeled "crazy" and keep their symptoms hidden. Thanks in part to greater awareness among professionals of the prevalence of OCD and also in some measure to movies such as "As Good as it Gets" and television shows like "Monk", people are becoming more aware of OCD, yet it still remains what Michael Jenike of Harvard University has called a "hidden epidemic".