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Obsessive
Compulsive
Disorder

What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

Worries, doubts, superstitious beliefs-- all are common in everyday life. However, when they become so excessive that they interfere with normal everyday life, then a diagnosis of OCD is made. Obsessions are unwanted, recurrent, and disturbing thoughts which the person cannot suppress and which can cause overwhelming anxiety. Compulsions are repetitive, ritualized behaviors that the person feels driven to perform.

Who suffers from OCD?

Approximately 1 in 50 adults have OCD. That means, 5 million people in the US.
                                                          

In summary

1. OCD is a medical illness recognized by experts around the world.

2. OCD is an anxiety disorder characterized by symptoms that can include powerful, unwanted, and recurrent thoughts and/or compulsive, repetitive behaviors.

3. OCD is the 4th most common mental illness

4. Experts believe that OCD may be caused by low levels of a chemical in the brain calles serotonin.

5. People with OCD are not "crazy", although they may feel that way because of troubling thoughts that they can not control and they know are inappropriate.

6. People with OCD often have depression also.

7. People with OCD often believe they are the only ones who have irrational obsessive thoughts, and because of that, they are to ashamed to tell anyone.

8. Having OCD is NOT a sign of weakness or lack of willpower in stopping the thoughts and behaviors.

9. OCD is treatable !!! Effective medications and therapy techniques are available.

People can get better if they seek help and get the appropriate treatment.

What are the most common compulsions?

1. Cleaning

2. Checking

3. Arranging/Organizing

4. Collecting/Hoarding

5. Counting

6. Touching

7. Repeating

What are the most common Obsessions?

1. Fear of germs / contamination/dirt

2. Fear of causing harm to self or others

3. Fear of making a mistake

4. Fear of behaving in a socially unacceptable manner

5. Need for symmetry or exactness

6. Excessive doubt

7. Intrusive sexual thoughts or urges

8. Imagining losing control of aggressive urges

When does OCD begin?

OCD can start at anytime. It normally starts between preschool and age 40. In most cases, it starts in childhood. Unfortunately, OCD often goes unrecognized. It usually takes many Doctors and many years to finally diagnose OCD.

What causes Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

No one knows for sure. It is believed that low levels of the chemical serotonin are prominently involved in OCD. It seems clear that reduced levels of serotonin play a role in OCD, There is no laboratory test for OCD. Sometimes OCD starts suddenly in childhood after strep throat. Treatment with an antibiotic may prove helpful.

What other disorders are sometimes confused with OCD?

Some disorders that closely resemble OCD and may respond to some of the same treatments are trichotillomania ( compulsive hair pulling), habit disorders, such as nail biting or skin picking. While they share superficial similarities, impulse control problems, they are probably not related to OCD in any substantial way.

The most common conditions that resemble OCD are tic disorders like Tourette's. Tics are involuntary motor behaviors such as facial grimacing, or vocal behaviors such as snorting,that often occur in response to a feeling of discomfort. More complex tics, like touching or tapping tics, may closely resemble compulsions. Tics and OCD occur together much more often when OCD or tics begin in early childhood.

Although stress can make OCD worse, most people with OCD report that symptoms come and go on their own. People with OCD comtinue to have a clear idea of what is real and what is not.

In children and adolescents, OCD may worsen or cause disruptive behaviors, exaggerate a pre-existing learning disorder, cause problems with attention and concentration, or interfere with learning at school. In many children with OCD, these disruptive behaviors are related to the OCD and will go away when the OCD is successfully treated.

Children and adults with pervasive development disorder, autism, asperger's syndrome, are extremely rigid and compulsive, with stereotyped behaviors that somewhat resemble very severe OCD. However, people in the spectrum, will also have problems relating to and communicating with other people, which do not occur in just OCD.

How is OCD treated?

The first step is education. Educate the patient and family. There is either the cognitive-behavior psychotherapy (CBT) and the medication with a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI).acute treatment is aimed at ending the current episode of OCD. Maintence treatment is aimed at preventing future episodes of OCD.

   Components of treatment

        EDUCATION- crucial in helping patients and families learn how to best manage and prevent its complications.

         PSYCHOTHERAPY - Cognitive - behavior psychotherapy (CBT) is the key element of treating most patients.

         MEDICATIONS - Medication with a serotonin inhibitor is helpful for many patients.