Obsessive compulsive disorder in a fishermen community.

OBJECTIVE: To find the prevalence of obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Two years at the local community of Manora, Karachi. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: An initial survey was conducted in a fishermen community at Salehabad which is located in Manora. A questionnaire inquiring about the demographic details of the patients and using the ICD-10 diagnostic research criteria along with Yale-Brown OC scale on a population of 5,000 for a period of 2 years was applied. About 150 positive cases were identified whose details were subjected to analysis. RESULTS: Out of a total population of 5,000, 3% were found to be suffering from OCD. Among these 56% (n=150) were females, 60% were married and 50% of the cases were under the age of 25. Among the obsessions contamination, pathological doubt and need for symmetry were the most common. Regarding the compulsions, checking, washing and counting were the most common. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that 3% of the population of given community was suffering from OCD, which is a significant finding. More community based studies are needed to assess the real magnitude of this illness.