The term 'Obessional Compulsive Disorder' (OCD) refers to patterns of thought (obsession) and behavior (compulsion). To be obsessed is to find that thoughts or ideas keep coming into your head whereas a compulsion is the need to do something even though you are trying to resist.
Men and women are equally affected by OCD - a condition ranked as the 10th cause of worldwide disability by the World Health Organisation. OCD tends to run in families and is often associated with anxiety and/or depression.
Obsessions almost invariably involve unpleasant thoughts about harm, either to oneself or others. Although most suffers are aware of the irrational nature of these thoughts and their associated rituals, they appear to gain little relief from the insight.
Features of OCD
Perhaps the most common concern involves ill-health, either contracted or passed to others because of contamination. The most common response to fear of contamination is to ritually and repeatedly clean (hands, door knobs, toilet seats). The next most common form of OCD involves repeatedly checking things (anywhere up to 100 times) that, if left unchecked, could pose some form of threat. Typically door locks, stoves, switches will be checked over and over until the level of tension reduces.
Although not as common another form of OCD involves hoarding. Hoarding behavior can involve anything from items of clothing (having hundreds of shirts) to storing newspapers, garbage, or items with some form of emotional connection.
There are other forms of OCD including body dysmorphia, feelings of over-responsibility to others, preoccupations with physical problems, obsessional thoughts and questions without associated compulsions. In any of the examples given the person finds the experience of OCD unpleasant.
Treatment of OCD
Two main methods are used. The first is medications involving the use of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI's) and the second is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. The most commonly used SSRI's are Prozac, Luvox, Zoloft, Paxil and Celexa. CBT exposes the person to their fear and then delays the response to that fear. For example, the person may be asked to dirty their hands and delay washing them. Over time the person learns to become less anxious and to re-evaluate their thoughts and actions.
04/13/2006
