Mandel talks about his OCD on '20/20'

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Canadian-born comedian and TV personality Howie Mandel candidly discussed his battle with obsessive-compulsive disorder in a "20/20" interview, ABC said.

The game-show host suffers a crippling fear of germs, "something he has joked about before but never spoken seriously about until now," the network said in a news release.

"'20/20' follows Mandel behind the scenes to the 'Deal or No Deal' set, to his California home with his children and wife of 30 years, and to his spotless Las Vegas penthouse suite at the MGM Grand -- where he performs 40 nights a year -- to explain the unusual rituals needed to survive," the network added.

"I am always on the verge of death in my head," Mandel told ABC News's David Muir.

The interview is scheduled to air Friday.