OCD Causes Common Risk Factors for OCD By Owen Kelly, PhD Owen Kelly, PhD Owen Kelly, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, professor, and author in Ontario, ON, who specializes in anxiety and mood disorders. Learn about our editorial process Updated on May 28, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Daniel B. Block, MD Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD LinkedIn Twitter Daniel B. Block, MD, is an award-winning, board-certified psychiatrist who operates a private practice in Pennsylvania. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Brooke Auchincloss / Getty Images There are many risk factors for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). A risk factor is something that increases a person’s chance of eventually developing a given illness. No one knows what causes OCD, but these are the risk factors, below. Remember, just because you might have a higher risk for developing OCD does not mean that you will. Conversely, people can develop OCD without having any or many risk factors. What We Know We do know some information about who is affected by OCD and when symptoms typically begin.OCD typically begins during late adolescence and early adulthoodEarly-onset is more common among menOCD has a high co-morbidity with other mental conditions including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, impulse-control disorders, emotional problems, and substance use disorders Risk Factors for OCD That You May Be Born With There are a number of factors that you are born with that may increase your risk of developing obsessive-compulsive disorder. Genetics About 50% of your risk for developing OCD is determined by your genes. As such, having family members with OCD is a risk factor. The closer that these individuals are to your immediate family, the greater your risk—particularly if their OCD began in childhood or the teen years. It is important to keep in mind, however, that families can shape behavior in ways other than through genes. For example, you might learn unhealthy coping mechanisms during stressful situations by observing your parents. Gender Gender as a risk factor for developing OCD varies with age. Males are at greater risk of developing childhood OCD. However, following the onset of puberty, the risk of developing OCD for males and females is about the same. It's worth noting that men and women may exhibit different symptoms. Males are more likely to complain of obsessions that are related to sexuality, exactness, and symmetry, and women are more likely to complain about obsessions and compulsions that are related to contamination and cleaning. Brain Structure Though the connection is not clear, there seems to be a relationship between OCD symptoms and certain irregularities in the brain. Research is being done to discover more on this topic. Personality Certain personality characteristics may contribute to a vulnerability for developing OCD. For example, people who score high on measures of neuroticism may be at greater risk. Socioeconomic Status Lower socioeconomic status is another risk factor for developing OCD. But it's unclear whether this is a cause or consequence of OCD symptoms—all that's known is that there is an association between the two. Risk Factors That Are Outside Your Control Other factors that increase the risk of OCD are things that you have little or no control over. Age Late adolescence seems to be the time when people are at the greatest risk for developing OCD. Once you're in early adulthood, your risk of developing OCD drops with age. Life Events Stressful life events, particularly those that are traumatic in nature and occurred early on in life, are major risk factors for developing OCD. For example, having been physically or sexually abused would fall into this category. Mental Illness Having another form of mental illness, especially another anxiety disorder, is a risk factor. This relationship is complex, however, since, in some people, OCD may be a risk factor for other mental illnesses. Risk Factors That Are Modifiable Some risk factors are things that can be controlled to an extent. Drug Use Drug use is also linked to the onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Substance use may cause chemical changes in the brain that create a vulnerability to OCD. It can also indirectly lead to OCD by creating additional stress through conflict with parents, difficulty maintaining employment, and trouble with the law. Marital Status Being unmarried seems to be a risk factor. Whether this is a direct cause of OCD or not is unclear, as being unmarried may simply be a result of debilitating OCD symptoms that get in the way of forming relationships. On the other hand, marriage may buffer people against life stress, thus reducing the chances of developing OCD. Employment Status Another risk factor is being unemployed. However, like being unmarried, being unemployed may be both a cause and a consequence of OCD symptoms. If you or a loved one are struggling with OCD, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. A Word From Verywell If you have symptoms of OCD, it is important to talk to a doctor or mental health professional. It is common for OCD to occur alongside other mental health conditions, but getting appropriate treatment can help you get relief. The Best Online Therapy Programs We've tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain. 10 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Ruscio AM, Stein DJ, Chiu WT, Kessler RC. The epidemiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Mol Psychiatry. 2010;15(1):53–63. doi:10.1038/mp.2008.94 Nestadt G, Grados M, Samuels JF. Genetics of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2010;33(1):141–158. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2009.11.001 Mathis MA, Alvarenga Pd, Funaro G, et al. Gender differences in obsessive-compulsive disorder: a literature review. Braz J Psychiatry. 2011;33(4):390-9. doi:10.1590/s1516-44462011000400014 Moreira PS, Marques P, Soriano-Mas C, et al. The neural correlates of obsessive-compulsive disorder: a multimodal perspective. Transl Psychiatry. 2017;7(8):e1224. Published 2017 Aug 29. doi:10.1038/tp.2017.189 Huh MJ, Shim G, Byun MS, et al. The impact of personality traits on ratings of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Psychiatry Investig. 2013;10(3):259–265. doi:10.4306/pi.2013.10.3.259 Moreso NV, Hernandez-Martinez C, Val VA, Sans JC. Socio-demographic and psychopathological risk factors in obsessive-compulsive disorder: Epidemiologic study of school population. Int J Clin Health Psychol. 2013;13(2):118-126. doi:10.1016/S1697-2600(13)70015-2 Kroska EB, Miller ML, Roche AI, Kroska SK, O'Hara MW. Effects of traumatic experiences on obsessive-compulsive and internalizing symptoms: The role of avoidance and mindfulness. J Affect Disord. 2018;225:326–336. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2017.08.039 Mancebo MC, Grant JE, Pinto A, Eisen JL, Rasmussen SA. Substance use disorders in an obsessive compulsive disorder clinical sample. J Anxiety Disord. 2009;23(4):429–435. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2008.08.008 Subramaniam M, Abdin E, Vaingankar JA, Chong SA. Obsessive--compulsive disorder: prevalence, correlates, help-seeking and quality of life in a multiracial Asian population. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2012;47(12):2035-43. doi:10.1007/s00127-012-0507-8 Rodriguez-Salgado B, Dolengevich-Segal H, Arrojo-Romero M, et al. Perceived quality of life in obsessive-compulsive disorder: related factors. BMC Psychiatry. 2006;6:20. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-6-20 Additional Reading Fontenelle LF, Hasler G. The analytical epidemiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder: risk factors and correlates. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2008;32(1):1-15. doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2007.06.024 Grisham JR, Anderson TM, Sachdev PS. Genetic and environmental influences on obsessive-compulsive disorder. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2008;258(2):107-16. doi:10.1007/s00406-007-0789-0 National Institute of Mental Health. Obsessive compulsive disorder. By Owen Kelly, PhD Owen Kelly, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, professor, and author in Ontario, ON, who specializes in anxiety and mood disorders. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist for OCD Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.