Do Most OCD Sufferers Also Have Schizophrenia?

Question

I picked up a phamplet on anxiety disorders, and under the OCD section it explained how many OCD patients also have schizophrenia. I don't recall the exact wording but it insinuated that if you have OCD, you are likely to have schizophrenia.

I have mild OCD. I never got help for it because I don't want a "mentally ill" label stamped on my forward. I don't want people to insinuate that because I have OCD, I am also schizophrenic.

Why did they make the statement on the phamplet? OCD is a non-psychotic disorder. People don't see visions and hear voices, like schizophrenia.

For example, one of the things I do is when I put on chapstick sometimes I have this compulsion to keep putting it on at least 5 times, so it has enough stuff. I just can't put one layer on. I just do minor stuff like that one in a while. I don't hear voices or see visions that are not there. I am not delusional. I hate how they always put sterotypes in pamphlets, similar how they say that many people with anxiety are alcholics. I got an MIP so the probation officer labled me as an alcoholic because I drank under age. When she heard that I had an anxiety disorder, she said "yes many people that are alcholics have anxiety."

I just don't like stereotypes. I don't like OCD being compared to schizophrenia.

Answer 1

No not at all. I think perhaps the other way around - a high percentage of schizophrenics also have OCD.  

Answer 2

NO! Schizophrenia is not a single disorder but a spectrum of disorders.They are described in DSM-IV TR and a summary can be found in a Yahoo Web Search. Wikipedia has a good one. Schizophrenia is probably the most misunderstood and misinterpreted of all mental disorders; it can only be diagnosed by a qualified psychiatrist.

Good luck in your research, good mental healtj, peace and Love!

Answer 3

I think the pamphlet might have said that people with schizophrenia are likely to have OCD. Rather than it saying that people with OCD have a high rate of schizophrenia.

This is because roughly .5%-1% of people in each country have schizophrenia.

Also- in reality only 2% of people in every country actually have OCD- many people self diagnose themselves with it, because they have habits that aren't frequent in other peoples lives.

Hope this helped!

Answer 4

I think it would be the other way around. That some schizophrenics have OCD. Some I know do anyway. Honestly we all have OCD to some point. I have to shuffle my playlists 3 times, I have no clue why, but always have to.

I know 2 different people, both with really bad schizophrenia. I would class one as a definate OCD. Even down to the small things like an irrational fear they will wake up g*y. Aside from her fear of everything.

But yes, that isn't a fair comparison. OCD is nowhere near as severe as schizophrenia.