What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by unwanted and intrusive
thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive ritualistic behaviors (compulsions).
OCD tends to be a vicious cycle. Trying to ignore the obsessions can increase
your levels of stress, making you more driven to carry out the ritualistic
behaviors.
Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
OCD can be purely obsessional (“Pure O”) with symptoms ranging in
severity. OCD can also manifest itself with only obsessions. It is important to
remember that symptoms become disorders when they interfere with daily
living and/or cause distress to the individual and that symptoms vary from
person to person.
Obsession Symptoms
Obsessions are recurrent and persistent intrusive and anxiety-inducing
thoughts. Individuals may try and reduce or eliminate these intrusive thoughts
by carrying out compulsive behaviors. Obsessions usually center around
themes, such as:
● Fear of contamination
● Unwanted thoughts of harming oneself or others
● Intrusive thoughts of sexual or religious subjects
Compulsion Symptoms:
Compulsions are behaviors that individuals feel driven to carry out in order to
ease themselves of the anxiety that comes with obsessions. However,
engaging in these behaviors only temporarily reduces anxiety. The
compulsions tend to be unrelated to the intrusive thoughts that the individual
is attempting to get rid of. For example, a person with OCD may feel that
they have to count a certain amount of times or else harm will come to them
or their family. In this example, the obsession and compulsion are not related,
but carrying out the compulsions can help comfort the individual and may rid
themselves of the intrusive thought. Like obsessions, compulsions are usually
centered around a theme, and can include:
● Repeated counting or tapping
● Repeating a word, phrase, or prayer
● Cleaning or hand-washing until the skin is raw
Onset and Causes
OCD usually begins in adolescence and young adulthood but can begin in
childhood. The types of obsessions and compulsions that an individual
experiences can vary over time. Experts are unsure of the exact cause of
obsessive-compulsive disorder but the main theories are:
● Biology - OCD can be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain or
differences in one’s natural chemistry
● Genetics - a predisposition for OCD can be inherited and a genetic
component may be involved, but experts have yet to discover the exact
genes involved
● Learning - Symptoms of OCD, obsessions and compulsive behavior,
can be learned over time through watching family members or learned
over time
Treatment for OCD
There are several steps that a doctor may take to diagnose
obsessive-compulsive disorder.
● Psychological evaluation - a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist will
assess the individual by discussing their thoughts, symptoms, and
patterns of behavior to see if the behavior causes distress or interrupts
the individual’s daily living.
● Consulting the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders
● Physical Exam - the doctor may conduct a psychical exam to rule out
any other issues that could be causing the symptoms
It can be difficult to diagnose obsessive-compulsive disorder because the
symptoms are similar to those of anxiety, obsessive-compulsive personality
disorder (OCPD), schizophrenia, and other disorders.
Once a diagnosis of OCD is given, treatment can be sought out. Although
there is no cure for OCD, there are many forms of treatment that can make
the disorder manageable and greatly decrease an individual’s levels of
discomfort. Treatment options include:
● Therapy - cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is very effective for
individuals with OCD. Cognitive behavioral therapy works to identify
the relationship between thoughts, emotions, and the behaviors that
follow. A component of CBT is exposure and response prevention
(ERP), where one is gradually exposed to a feared object or situation,
and taught to resist carrying out their compulsions.
● Medications - medications can help control the symptoms of OCD.
Antidepressants are usually tried first before moving onto other
medications. Some antidepressants approved by the FDA to treat OCD
are: Anafranil, Prozac, Fluvoxamine, Paxil, Pexeva, and Zoloft
● Outpatient and residential treatment centers and programs
● Deep brain stimulation (DBS) - this method has been approved by the
FDA only for adults 18 and older with OCD who have not responded to traditional treatment methods. This method involves placing electrodes
in certain areas of the brain, which send out electrical impulses, in
order to regulate abnormal impulses.
● Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) - the FDA has only approved
this method for people ages 22 to 68 years when traditional treatment
has not been effective. TMS works by using magnetic fields to
stimulate nerve cells in the brain, helping reduce the symptoms of
obsessive-compulsive disorder.
When deciding which treatment to seek out, it is important to remember that
everyone responds differently to treatment, and one treatment may work best
for you and not be effective for another. It is also very important to research
and discuss with a professional the associated risks that come with each
treatment plan.
Resources
There are many resources that can be found locally or online in order to learn
more about obsessive-compulsive disorder. Some sources include:
● International OCD Foundation
● Peace of Mind Foundation
● NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Health
● American Psychiatric Association
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive
disorder consider using one of the resources above to learn more or seek out
professional help.
Sources:
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