From Psychologies · Nina Parage · · 50s
Women Misdiagnosed With Anxiety For Decades
Women often misdiagnosed with anxiety for decades before correct TOC diagnosis.
In brief
Women often misdiagnosed with anxiety for decades before correct TOC diagnosis. Women frequently experience anxiety symptoms for years before being correctly diagnosed with OCD, a condition that affects 1.8% of women but is often misdiagnosed as anxiety. Originally reported by Psychologies.
Women Misdiagnosed With Anxiety
Women often misdiagnosed with anxiety for decades before correct TOC diagnosis.
Emily Stetzer's Story
Emily Stetzer, 31, thought she had generalized anxiety since childhood but was diagnosed with OCD after 12 years.
OCD Prevalence Among Women
1.8% of women in the US have OCD, compared to 0.5% of men, according to NIMH data.
Misdiagnosis Delay
Patients experience 12.8 years between first symptoms and diagnosis, with 1.45 years before treatment begins.
Why Misdiagnosis Happens
Healthcare providers often misdiagnose OCD due to its taboo nature and less typical presentations.
The big picture
Women frequently experience anxiety symptoms for years before being correctly diagnosed with OCD, a condition that affects 1.8% of women but is often misdiagnosed as anxiety.
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