OCD in Older adults / Seniors: Prevalence, Risk & Key Differences

Key things to know What the evidence shows
How common is it? 2.4% global pooled
Is it more common among older adults / seniors? OCD persists into older age; not simply a young-person disorder
Are older adults / seniors at higher risk? #N/A
How much higher is the risk? Global pooled prevalence 2.4%
How often can it be missed? High; rituals may be attributed to ageing/cognitive problems
Does it show up differently among older adults / seniors? Somewhat
How might it look different? Long-standing rituals may coexist with medical/cognitive concerns
What commonly occurs alongside it? Depression; anxiety; chronic medical illness
What can it be confused with? Dementia-related repetition; OCPD; depression; psychosis
Common screening tool OCI-R
Separate screening tool for older adults / seniors None specific
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