据估计，强迫性障碍在常见精神疾病中排名第四，影响人群约占总人口的 2%-3%。[2]Karno M, Golding JM, Sorenson SB, et al. The epidemiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder in five US communities. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1988;45:1094-1099.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3264144?tool=bestpractice.com男女患病率相同。[3]Maj M, Sartorius N, Zohar J, eds. Obsessive-compulsive disorder. 2nd ed. Chichester, England: John Wiley; 2002. 尽管发病的平均年龄为 22-36 岁，但是男性有比女性发病更早的倾向。[3]Maj M, Sartorius N, Zohar J, eds. Obsessive-compulsive disorder. 2nd ed. Chichester, England: John Wiley; 2002. 强迫性障碍在不同文化间表现出相似的患病率和症状。[4]Weissman MM, Bland RC, Canino GJ, et al. The cross national epidemiology of obsessive compulsive disorder. The Cross National Collaborative Group. J Clin Psychiatry. 1994;55:5-10.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8077177?tool=bestpractice.com 但是，文化特异性会对强迫思维的内容有一定影响。[5]Rasmussen SA, Eisen JL. The epidemiology and clinical features of obsessive compulsive disorder. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 1992;15:743-758.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1461792?tool=bestpractice.com 在美国、加拿大、波多黎各、德国、韩国及新西兰的患病率相近。[4]Weissman MM, Bland RC, Canino GJ, et al. The cross national epidemiology of obsessive compulsive disorder. The Cross National Collaborative Group. J Clin Psychiatry. 1994;55:5-10.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8077177?tool=bestpractice.com 但台湾地区报告的患病率相对更低。[4]Weissman MM, Bland RC, Canino GJ, et al. The cross national epidemiology of obsessive compulsive disorder. The Cross National Collaborative Group. J Clin Psychiatry. 1994;55:5-10.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8077177?tool=bestpractice.com 强迫症对患者生活质量有显著影响，可严重损害其日常功能的水平。 据世界卫生组织估计，在 15 岁至 44 岁人群的致残疾病排行榜中，强迫性障碍位居前 20 名。[6]World Health Organization. The World Health Report 2001 - Mental health: new understanding, new hope. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; 2001.http://www.who.int/whr/2001/en/whr01_en.pdf
