The Effects of Various Factors on the Prevalence of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Behaviors in Undergraduate College Students

The Effects of Various Factors on the Prevalence of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Behaviors in Undergraduate College Students

Miniaci Performing Arts Center

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive and distressing thoughts, urges, and images, as well as repetitive behaviors aimed at decreasing the discomfort caused by these obsessive thoughts. (Anthony, Rachman, Richter, & Swinson, 1998). OCD is estimated to be the second most common psychiatric disorder in both children and adults. (Dell-Osso, Marazziti, Planner, & Presta, et al. 2003). The age of onset in within the college years, yet not many studies have focused on college age students. The study looks at the characteristics of OCD in undergraduate college students. We break the study down into four areas of interest; gender and college level, athletic ability, ethnicity and school performance and birth order. A survey is to be handed out to obtain our data. We would like to know the effects of OCD characteristics in undergraduate students in regards to the four subsets.

Anthony, Martin M., & Rachman, S., & Richter, Margaret A., & Swinson, Richard P. (Ed.). (1998). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; theory, research, and treatment.New York. The Guilford Press.

Dell-Osso, L., & Marazziti, D., & Pfanner, C., Presta, S., & et al. (2003). Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder in childhood and adolescence. Psychopathology, 36 (2). Retrieved January 27, 2005 from ProQuest.