What illnesses often co-exist with OCD?

People with OCD may be diagnosed with a number of other conditions, including:

• Major depressive disorder
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Anorexia nervosa
• Social anxiety disorder
• bulimia nervosa
• Tourette syndrome
• Asperger syndrome
• Compulsive skin picking
• Body dysmorphic disorder
• Trichotillomania
• Obsessive compulsive personality disorder

There is some research demonstrating a link between drug addiction and OCD as well. Many who suffer from OCD also suffer from panic attacks. There is a higher risk of drug addiction among those with any anxiety disorder (possibly as a way of coping with the heightened levels of anxiety), but drug addiction among OCD patients may serve as a type of compulsive behavior and not just as a coping mechanism. Depression is also extremely prevalent among sufferers of OCD.

Individuals with OCD have also been found to be affected by delayed sleep phase syndrome at a substantially higher rate than the general public.