Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

What is it?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a specific type of anxiety disorder that manifests itself through intrusive and persistent thoughts or impulses and compulsive behaviors or rituals that are performed in response to such thoughts. Individuals with OCD most often know that their obsessions are senseless or exaggerated and that their compulsive behavior is either unnecessary or extreme, but they still feel overwhelmed pressure to carry out the compulsion. OCD can occur in people from all walks of life and ethnic groups, both male and female. Common compulsive behaviors may include excessive hand washing, putting an item of clothing on and then taking it off, placing things in a certain order, and hoarding objets so that nothing of value will be lost. For a person with OCD, obsessions and compulsions are very severe. They consume the person’s time in such a way that it interferes with social, academic, and/or compulsive disorders. Because pleasure is obtained from these activities, an individual would not ordinarily wish to stop them, except for the secondary problems they may cause.

Characteristics:
People who:

Repeatedly check things, perhaps dozens of times, before feeling secure enough to go to sleep or to leave the house. Is the stove off? Is the door locked? Is the alarm set?
Fear they will harm others. (Example: A man’s car hits a pothole on a city street and he fears it is actually a body.)
Feel dirty and contaminated. (Example: A woman is fearful of touching her baby because she might contaminate it.)
Constantly arranging and ordering things. (Example: A child can’t go to sleep unless he lines up all his shoes or toys correctly.)
Are excessively concerned with body imperfections-who insists on numerous plastic surgeries or spends hours a day bodybuilding.
Are ruled by numbers, believing that certain numbers represent good and other numbers represent evil.
Are excessively concerned with sin or blasphemy.

Treatment:

OCD can be effectively treated with medication and behavior therapy. Both affect brain chemistry, which in turn affects behavior. Medication can regulate serotonin, reducing obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior. These are the most recommended medications: Clomipramine (Anafranil), Fluoxetine (Prozac), Sertalin (Zoloft), and Fluvoxamine maleate (Luvox). Medication is recommended for 10 to 12 weeks before judging the effectiveness.

Behavior therapy is not traditional psychotherapy. It is “exposure and response prevention,” and it has been found to be effective for many people with OCD. Patients are deliberately exposed to a feared object or idea, and then are discouraged or prevented from carrying out the usual compulsive response. Most people treated with medications find their symptoms reduced by 40-50%.

(Source: “Mental Health Sensitivity Curriculum: Understanding Brain Disorders” by Kentucky Partnership for Families and Children, Inc.)

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