There’s a suggestion that the actual prevalence rate of OCD may be higher than the reported 1% in the United States. This is because many people with OCD simply function through it, albeit not well in many cases.
This means, though, that the rate may be underreported, and that the cases the treatment community knows about are those that seek treatment. Whatever the cause, the rates of treatment versus occurrence for OCD are high.
There are effective clinical treatments for the disease. Certain medications have been found to stabilize brain function and suppress intrusive thoughts and compulsions, and cognitive behavioral therapy, a form of psychotherapy that focuses on the decision-making process, has proved to be effective in a clinical setting.