THE ZURICH STUDY .18. OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDERS AND SYNDROMES INTHE GENERAL-POPULATION

The cross-sectional and longitudinal association between obsessive-com pulsive syndrome (OCS) and other psychiatric problems and the course o ver 11 years was examined in a Swiss cohort of young adults. As the pr evalence of obsessive-compulsive disorders, defined according to the D SM-III was very low (n = 5), we applied a lower diagnostic threshold b ased on obsessive-compulsive symptoms and social impairment, to define an OCS. The weighted lifetime prevalence rate for OCS at age 30 years was 5.5%. The mean age of onset was 17.1 +/- 4.9 years for males, and 19.1 +/- 5.1 year for females. OCS was associated with all subtypes o f depressive disorders as well as with social phobia and agoraphobia. Although the longitudinal analysis showed no stability at the diagnost ical level, there was some stability on the symptom level. Perhaps sub jects with OCS learned in time to cope and to live with their symptoms without suffering.