Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is more than just a little quirk
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a type of anxiety disorder, is a potentially disabling illness that traps people in endless cycles of repetitive thoughts and behaviors.
People with OCD are plagued by recurring and distressing thoughts, fears, or images (obsessions) that they cannot control.
The anxiety (nervousness) produced by these thoughts leads to an urgent need to perform certain rituals or routines (compulsions). The compulsive rituals are performed in an attempt to prevent the obsessive thoughts or make them go away.
Although the ritual may make the anxiety go away temporarily, the person must perform the ritual again when the obsessive thoughts return. This OCD cycle can progress to the point of taking up hours of the person’s day and significantly interfering with normal activities. People with OCD may be aware that their obsessions and compulsions are senseless or unrealistic, but they cannot stop themselves.
Some common obsessions with OCD include: fear of dirt or contamination by germs; fear of causing harm to another; fear of making a mistake; fear of being embarrassed or behaving in a socially unacceptable manner; fear of thinking evil or sinful thoughts; need for order, symmetry or exactness; excessive doubt and the need for constant reassurance.
Common compulsions include: repeatedly bathing, showering, or washing hands; refusing to shake hands or touch doorknobs; repeatedly checking things such as locks or stoves; constant counting, mentally or aloud, while performing routine tasks; constantly arranging things in a certain way; eating foods in a specific order; being stuck on words, images or thoughts, usually disturbing, that won’t go away and can interfere with sleep; repeating specific words, phrases, or prayers; needing to perform tasks a certain number of times and collecting or hoarding items with no apparent value.
Although the exact cause of OCD is not fully understood, studies have shown that a combination of biological and environmental factors may be involved.
OCD afflicts about 3.3 million adults and about 1 million children and adolescents in the United States. The disorder usually first appears in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. It occurs about equally in men and women and affects people of all races and socioeconomic backgrounds.
There is no laboratory test to diagnose OCD. The doctor bases his or her diagnosis on an assessment of the patient’s symptoms, including how much time the person spends performing his or her ritual behaviors.
OCD will not go away by itself, so it is important to seek treatment. The most effective approach to treating OCD combines medications with cognitive-behavior therapy. The goal of cognitive behavior therapy is to teach people with OCD to confront their fears and reduce anxiety without performing the ritual behaviors (called exposure therapy or exposure and response prevention therapy). Therapy also focuses on reducing the exaggerated or catastrophic thinking that often occurs in people with OCD.
Tricyclic antidepressants, such as Anafranil, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants, such as Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft may be helpful in treating OCD.
In severe cases of OCD and in people who do not respond to medical and behavioral therapy, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or psychosurgery may be used to treat OCD.
During ECT, electrodes are attached to the patient’s head and a series of electric shocks are delivered to the brain, which induce seizures. The seizures cause the release of neurotransmitters in the brain.
In most cases, OCD can be successfully treated with medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or both. With ongoing treatment, most people can achieve long-term relief from symptoms and return to normal or near-normal functioning.
OCD cannot be prevented. However, early diagnosis and treatment can help reduce the time a person spends suffering from the condition.
The television show “Monk” gives us a general idea of what some people with OCD go through, although it is portrayed as a comedy. Some famous people who have or had OCD are: Howard Hughes, Billy Bob Thornton, Jessica Alba, Donald Trump, Cameron Diaz, Harrison Ford, David Beckham, Penelope Cruz and Howie Mandel.
