Delay to diagnosis in OCD

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether the delay between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) onset and diagnosis has decreased in the past 25 years. We evaluated 165 adults with OCD with a diagnostic interview including questions about age of OCD onset. The mean age of onset was 13.6 years old and age of diagnosis was 20.7 years old, resulting in a mean delay of 7.1 years. Older individuals reported a significantly longer delay to diagnosis. Delay to diagnosis continues to be a significant problem in individuals with OCD, though this trend may be improving among younger individuals.