Facts and Statistics- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is defined as a disorder that includes two core symptoms- obsessions and compulsions. According to the Census for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obsessions are defined by:

  • Thoughts, impulses, or images that occur over and over again. These thoughts, impulses or images are unwanted. They cause a lot of anxiety and stress.
  • The person who has these thoughts, impulses or images tries to ignore them or tries to make them go away.

Compulsions are defined as:

  • Repeated behaviors or thoughts over and over again or according to certain rules that must be followed exactly in order to make an obsession go away.
  • The person feels that the purpose of the behaviors or thoughts is to prevent or reduce distress or prevent some feared event or situation.

The following are facts and statistics on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder:

  • 1.2% of U.S. adults had OCD in the past year.
  • OCD was higher for females (1.8%) than males (0.5%).
  • Among adults with OCD, approximately one half (50.6%) had serious impairment
  • 34.8% of adults with OCD had moderate impairment
  • 14.6% had mild impairment.
  • OCD affects 2.2 million adults
  • The average onset is 19 with 25% of cases occurring by age 14
  • One-third of affected adults first experience symptoms in childhood
  •  17% of autistic people may specifically have OCD
  • Because of similar characteristics, it is often overlooked
  • It affects people of all races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds
  • OCD is one of the top 20 causes of illness-related disability worldwide for individuals between 15 and 44 years of age
  • 1 in 40 adults are affected.
  • 1 in 100 children are affected
  • Other conditions may co-exist with OCD including anxiety, bipolar, ADHD, autism spectrum, Tourette syndrome, and major depressive disorder.
  • Worldwide, OCD is approximately 2% of the general population
  • OCD ranks 10th place among all diseases
  •  1 in every 200 children has the disorder 60 to 70% of OCD children improve significantly with therapy.
  • Many people still hide their OCD behaviors.
Beyond OCD.org
Healthy Place.org
National Institute of Mental Health

Zika Virus and Microcephaly

zikaheading

Media coverage surrounding the Zika virus outbreak and its link to microcephaly in newborns continue as the number of cases continue to grow including a recent article on the discovery of infected mosquitos found in the state of Florida.

What exactly are the facts?

Zika virus disease is a virus which is primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes that were first identified in Uganda in 1947 in monkeys. The rates of human infections were reported across Africa and Asia from the 1960’s to the 1980’s. It wasn’t until 2015 however when Brazil reported a direct association between the Zika virus and microcephaly. Since then, the number of people infected has grown in alarming rates including the number of children born with microcephaly.

Transmission

Typically, the Zika virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. These types of mosquitos are generally found in tropical environments. The virus can also be transmitted through sexual activity and can be detected in body fluids including blood, urine, amniotic fluids, semen, saliva and spinal cord fluids.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms may include a slight fever which may appear a few days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito. Other signs may include conjunctivitis, and muscle and joint pain. The symptoms typically last between 2-7 days. There is currently no cure for the virus.

What is the relationship between the Zika virus and Microcephaly?

The Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) confirmed the Zika virus infection during pregnancy does cause microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects.

What is Microcephaly?

Microcephaly is defined as a medical condition where the brain does not grow properly resulting in a smaller than normal size head.

microcephaly-comparison

Diagnosis

Often, microcephaly can be diagnosed during pregnancy using an ultrasound test. This is generally done late in the 2nd trimester or early in the third trimester. After a baby is born, a health practitioner will measure the distance around the baby’s head and compare the measurements to the general population standards. Severe microcephaly occurs when the baby’s brain has not developed during pregnancy.

Incidence

Microcephaly is considered rare. In the United States, microcephaly occurs from 2 babies per 10,000 live births to 12 per 10,000 live births. An estimated 25,000 births per year. However, the rates in Brazil have jumped from 0.04 percent to 1.9 percent within the last year.

Causes

Besides the Zika virus, microcephaly may be caused by:

  • German measles
  • Chicken pox
  • Exposure to drugs or alcohol in the womb
  • Chromosomal  abnormalities
  • Decreased oxygen to the fetal brain
  • Severe malnutrition
  • Gene deletion i.e. DiGeorge syndrome

Associated Conditions

Children born with microcephaly may not show any signs or symptoms initially, but may develop the following later:

  • cerebral palsy
  • seizures
  • intellectual disabilities
  • learning disabilities
  • hearing impairments
  • visual impairments

Treatment

There is currently no treatment for microcephaly. Early intervention is vital for the growth and development of the child.

Resources

CDC- Build a Prevention Kit-Provides information on reducing the risk of Zika by creating a prevention kit.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – This site provides information on Zika travel notices and countries with the endemic including guidelines for traveler’s visiting family and friends in the affected area.

Live Coverage– complete coverage of the outbreak

U.S. Department of State– Maintains an updated status notice on the virus.

The following medical sites provide additional information on microcephaly including causes, symptoms, test and diagnosis:

Organizations

Cortical Foundation– Dedicated to providing services to educate, advocate, support and improve awareness of cortical malformations

Foundation for Children with Microcephaly– A website created to help and inform parents and families of children who have been diagnosed with microcephaly

Selected News Articles

The following are selected articles on the Zika Virus and Microcephaly:

A mothers battle: Surviving microcephaly in Brazil.

Microcephaly: “It’s not the end of the world.”

Protecting pregnant women in the U.S. from Zika is a top priority, Official says.

Sesame Street’s Elmo and Raya warn kids about Zika

Scientists determine how Zika virus causes brain defects and microcephaly

Zika Revealed: Here’s what a brain-cell killing virus looks like

 

 

Cystic Fibrosis Resources

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. An estimated 30,000 children and adults are affected. This disease clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening infections. For more information, click on the links below:

Medical Sites

American Lung Association
Genetics Home Reference
Kids Health
March of Dimes
Mayo Clinic
Medline Plus
WebMD
Wikipedia

Organizations

Boomer Esiason Foundation
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation