Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ( OCD )

Definition Obsessive-compulsive disorder: A psychiatric disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions, such as cleaning, checking, counting, or hoarding. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), one of the anxiety disorders, is a potentially disabling condition that can persist throughout a person's life.

Symptoms Anxiety A need to escape from thoughts. Self harm on purpose. Fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt or contaminating others. Fear of causing harm to yourself or others. Intrusive sexually explicit or violent thoughts and images. Excessive focus on religious or moral ideas. Order and symmetry: the idea that everything must line up “just right.” Superstitions; excessive attention to something considered lucky or unlucky. Excessive double-checking of things, such as locks, appliances, and switches.

Diagnosis A physician will conduct a physical exam, and a physiological test on the patient. Also, will have obsessions they can not control, they realize the obsessions interfere with their daily routines. The therapist will look for compulsive behaviors and these obsessions and compulsions take a lot of time and get in the way of important activities the person values, such as working, going to school or spending time with friends.

Causes Insufficient levels of serotonin: A chemical in the brain that helps regulate moods and emotions. Brain scans have also shown that people with OCD often have abnormalities within the brain, particularly in the orbital cortex (the part of the brain above the eyes) Infection: A streptococcal infection of the throat is known to occasionally result in the body confusing healthy cells with the infection and causing cellular damage. Depression: People with depression sometimes develop OC symptoms, and those with OCD very often develop depression. Dealing with both together is very difficult without clinical intervention and it is notoriously difficult to undertake an exposure programmed while the depression is high.

Treatment Two main treatments for OCD are psychotherapy (personal counseling with a psychotherapist) and medications. Infection: A streptococcal infection of the throat is known to occasionally result in the body confusing healthy cells with the infection and causing cellular damage.

Those Affected People from all walks of life can get OCD. It strikes people of all social and ethnic groups and both males and females. Symptoms typically begin during childhood, the teenage years or young adulthood

Related/Interesting information: OCD cost the U.S. $8.4 billion in 1990 in social and economic losses, nearly 6 percent of the total mental health bill of $148 billion. Leonardo DiCaprio (Actor), Howie Mandel (Deal or No Deal Host), and David Beckham (Proffessional soccer player) suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder. "Obsessed" TV Show on A&E Explores OCD and Other Anxiety Disorders. The main character of the TV show "Monk" suffers from OCD.

Getting Help Locate mental health services in your area. Affordable healthcare NIMH clinical trials, and listings of professionals and organizations. Contact a psychologist or research listings of professionals and organizations.

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