Doctors have had difficulty locating the exact causes of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD. This makes it equally difficult to determine exactly who is at risk for developing the disease. Doctors do have a more general idea of what causes the disease, though, and they have been able to establish certain factors that may increase a person’s risk for developing OCD. People who are at an increased risk for developing the disease should pay close attention to any potential symptoms for their own personal well-being.

Factors that Influence OCD

There are a few different things that can influence who develops the disorder. Scientists are still analyzing the role of heredity in the development of OCD. While a definitive gene has not been identified, scientists still believe that genetics may have a certain influence over OCD and that the disease may have a tendency to run in families. The fact of the matter is that someone whose parents or siblings have OCD does have an increased risk for developing the disease. Doctors are not positive about why the disease has a tendency to run in families, but the disorder is not uncommon for doing so. Many other mental illnesses like social anxiety disorder and depression have a tendency to do the same.

People are also at their greatest risk for developing OCD at certain ages. These ages range from childhood to middle adulthood. Although the disease can affect anyone of nearly any age, it is most likely to develop in people in those age groups. Symptoms appear more commonly in these age groups than in other ages. Children and adults whose parents, siblings, or other immediate family members have the disease should be wary of any symptoms that may develop, in particular during this time in their lives.

Other factors to watch out for include known brain abnormalities, although scientists are not exactly sure whether these abnormalities come before OCD or are the result of the disease. Factors like high stress situations can bring out symptoms of OCD in people who have a predisposition to the disease. People with other anxiety disorders like depression or bipolar disorder may also be more likely to develop OCD.

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