Gender differences in a high-risk population for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): A study of comorbidity, neuropsychological performance patterns and dysfunctional beliefs

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a neuropsychiatric condition characterized by intrusive thoughts, images, or impulses, followed by repetitive and stereotyped motor or mental rituals aimed at reducing the distress caused by such obsessions. It is often a severely impairing disorder, affecting between two and three percent of the general population worldwide. OCD typically follows a bimodal onset distribution, with a first peak in childhood and adolescence, and a second in early adulthood. The disorder is marked by highly heterogeneous phenotypic expression, which has hindered the identification of specific biological substrates. In this context, previous studies have suggested that gender may play a relevant role in shaping this heterogeneity, particularly with respect to symptom expression, age of onset, comorbidity profiles, and the overall course of the disorder Abstract of the 38th ECNP Congress 2025