Individual Differences of OCD and Its Mechanism: A Current Review

DOI

10.2991/assehr.k.211220.044How to use a DOI?

Keywords

OCD; Age; Sex; Individual differences; Genetic; Risk factors

Abstract

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is considered to be one of the ten most disabling diseases. However, the individual differential manifestations and differential mechanisms of OCD still need to be discussed. This article focused on the individual differences of OCD, including sex and age, analyzed the behavioral, prevalence, and symptom expressions of individual differences of OCD patients, and found some possible risk factors/explanations of the phenomenon at the genetic level. First, this paper analyzed sex differences at a behavioral level, namely symptom patterns and disgust sensitivity is an iconic example that acted as a mediator of the sex differences in one theme of obsessions. Second, age differences were examined in two levels: early age and late age of onset. The age difference of OCD may be a reflection of the consequences of different risk factors. Specifically, OCD of late-onset patients could be due to environmental factors or origins, while the early age of onset reflects more genetic factors. Third, this review also wants to know if age and sex differences of OCD have any interactions. Males may have more genetic risk than females of OCD in all ages, but genetic factors generally present early. Finally, this article also wants to figure out if OCD has any potential benefit from evolutionary perspectives. The potential benefits in both individual and group levels were found. By systematically investigating both age and sex differences of OCD individuals, practitioners may develop more efficient treatments and/or prevention to help patients with specific sex and age and provide a reference for researchers.

Copyright

© 2021 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL.

Open Access

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Xuanjiang Guo
PY  - 2021
DA  - 2021/12/24
TI  - Individual Differences of OCD and Its Mechanism: A Current Review
BT  - Proceedings of the 2021 4th International Conference on Humanities Education and Social Sciences (ICHESS 2021)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 261
EP  - 266
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.211220.044
DO  - 10.2991/assehr.k.211220.044
ID  - Guo2021
ER  -