This study presents the clinical and demographic characteristics of a sample of 131 patients, who met DSM III-R criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Our aim was to compare our epidemiological data with non-European research, and to investigate the relationship between OCD symptoms and other clinical features, ie other Axis I concomitant disturbances, personality disorders (Axis II) and family history. Furthermore, we evaluated the age at onset distribution according to sex, family history and presence/absence of a comorbid diagnosis of mood disorder, by means of survival analysis.