Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Case Study

Obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD, is characterized as having symptoms of uncontrollable obsessions that lead the individual to experience symptoms of anxiety. The patient then experiences compulsions in attempt to relieve the anxiety. People with OCD experience repeat behaviors or thoughts that interfere with completing basic daily activities and tasks. The disorders symptoms debilitate the patient’s

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder that is characterized by constant intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that normally cause anxiety or distress which can only be alleviated by performing repetitive actions (compulsions) (Rahimi, Haghighi, and Shamsaei, 2015). Nearly everyone has experienced something similar to these obsessions and compulsions at some point in their life but this experience can only be labeled as OCD when it occurs at least one hour per day and correlates with high levels of distress (Abramowitz et al., 2010). It’s important to distinguish the differences between the actual psychological disorder and informal use of the term “OCD.” For example, many people claim they have “OCD” because they are particular about how something is done such as doing the dishes or making the bed in the morning. However, true sufferers of this disorder suffer from great anxiety and torment from their obsessions and cannot restrain themselves from giving in to their compulsions (Huffman & Dowdell, 2004, p. 462). OCD, according to the World Health Organization, is among the top ten most disabling medical conditions (Rahimi et al., 2015).

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession. You are also driven to act out again and again on it. The behaviors are aimed at

Many American suffer from mental disorders in fact “about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.” One disorder that is typically seems to be misunderstood and overgeneralized by the general public is obsessive-compulsive disorder. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, otherwise known as OCD is defined as “a type of anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent obsessions, compulsions, or both” (Textbook 574).This disorder is one the most costly, disabling, prevalent of the anxiety disorders (article) It is typically associated with persistent thoughts and ideas such as contamination, aggressive impulses, sexual content, and somatic concerns (health and body), these thoughts can be classified as obsessions. Obsessions are not something the person wants at all typically they are intrusive and uncontrollable and generally go against how they actually feel. Another part of this disorder is the compulsions, which are repeated behavior to neutralize or stabilize the obsessions. To be diagnosed with OCD one must know the behavior is irrational, the behavior must cause impairment to daily life and take up at least an hour per day or more of the person’s time. Some the more typical examples of OCD would consist of a person that one’s hands are filthy even if they have washed them 15 times in the last hour or having to check and make sure that you locked your home repeatedly before you leave. The lifetime prevalence for it is 2 to 3 percent. Onset for

OCD is distinguished by two prominent and pervasive behaviors: obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are defined by the presence of recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images, which are unwelcome and invasive (American Psychological Association, 2013). Compulsions are manifested by “repetitive behaviors or mental acts that an individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly” (APA, 2013, p. 235).

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (the fourth most prevalent psychiatric disorder), is an illness marked by the presence of either one or both of the criteria for having obsessive thoughts and repeating compulsive behaviors in order to repress the anxiety that the thoughts provoke. Since first being observed in the17th century, major developments have occurred in the diagnosis and treatment arenas of the illness. Furthermore, “obsessive-compulsive disorder is associated with substantial direct and indirect costs, which are compounded by an absence of recognition, and by under diagnosis and inappropriate treatment” (Stein, 2002). With continued research and development of new technological advancements such as brain imaging,

“The central feature of obsessive-compulsive disorder is a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, interpersonal, and mental control” (Whiston, 2013, p.275). Obsessions is defined as thoughts, images, impulses, and ideas that reoccur and interfere with the normal day activities. Compulsions is defined as repeated behaviors to reduce an individual’s anxiety. An anxiety disorder, could be one with repetitive thoughts and behavioral rituals that can be completely disabling (Psychology Today, 2015, para. 1). In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, personality disorders and

Obsessive compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder in the brain which is distinguished by unaccommodating thoughts and fears termed as obsessions. These obsessions are categorized into two groups described as aggression which entails the fear of harming others and contamination which is the fear of being dirty in relation to sex, religion and exactness. These obsessions can later lead one to commit repetitive behaviors which are termed as compulsions. Compulsions are customs that people believe will reduce their risk of the obsessions coming true, or at least reduce the anxiety they produce. There are various types of compulsion such as washing and cleaning, counting, checking,demanding reassurances, following a strict routine and orderliness.

In the field of Psychology there are a number of psychological disorders as well categories in which these disorders are placed. Psychological disorders are categorized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; the manual is now in its fifth edition, which is known as the DSM-5. In the DSM-5, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is categorized with other compulsive disorders. Obsessive-Compulsive disorder, also known as OCD, is a condition “marked by persistent, uncontrollable intrusions of unwanted thoughts or obsessions and urges to engage in senseless rituals called compulsions” (Weiten, 2015). Some examples of these obsessions or urges include persistent hand washing, counting, and extensive checking such as if doors are locked or ovens are turned off. In OCD some of the actions performed by those who suffer from the disorder become very intrusive and become a factor that interrupts their daily lives and may cause problems at home, work, in relationships and more (Baldridge, 2016). The number of individuals who suffer from this disorder ranges form 2 to 3 percent of the population (Weiten, 2015). People typically begin suffering from OCD between late childhood and early adulthood (Baldridge, 2016). The onset of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder often occurs following a stressful life event (Baldridge, 2016). In order to meet the criteria for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder the compulsions and obsessions must cause distress and cause an

Abramowitz, J. S., Taylor, S., & McKay, D. (2009). Obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Lancet, 374(9688), 491-9. Retrieved from https://zeus.tarleton.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/199044004?accountid=7078

As there are two factors to be considered when determining the symptoms (obsessions and compulsions), OCD patients rarely have only one or two clear signs. It can be noticed as: aggressive actions, seeking symmetry and order, continuous fear, and the need to carry actions to perfection. Moreover, some patients can sense their unreasonable actions and seek medical or psychological help; however, OCD is a self-diagnosable disorder, which means that a patient could find out whether he is affected by using a special scale. Yale-Brown obsessive-compulsive scale is a scale rated from zero to forty that measures the rate of severity of the

An Obsessive Compulsive Disorder includes four types and they are intrusive thoughts, constant checking, fear of contamination and hoarding. Intrusive thoughts are when a person is tortured with obsessional brain-work that is disquieting and frightening. As a result of intrusive thoughts being disturbing, it becomes an agony. Intrusive thoughts contain relationships, fear of sexual thoughts, magical thinking, religion and violent thoughts. Constant checking is the want to check things constantly and the obsessive of constant checking is the worry of damage or harm. Constant checking is regularly done numerous times a day for hours. Contamination is the requirement to continually wash and clean and contamination is the obsessive terror that can

repetitive thoughts and urges that invade their consciousness which cause them a great amount of

It’s when these concerns become obsessive, or compulsive, or worst still – Both, that they lose some or all of their normality and descend into ‘Obsessive Compulsive Disorder’.

All human beings have certain routines and habits that allow them to stay safe, healthy, and clean. However, people like Lisa, who experience some unwanted and intrusive obsessions, along with repetitive routines and behaviors, suffer from OCD, or obsessive compulsive disorder. In order for them to ease their anxiety, they perform these activities to an extent that they affect their daily lives. Sometimes this is done in order to lessen certain worries or fears, and others in order to avoid injuring someone or causing damage to something. While patients with OCD understand that their behavior is not rational and has no logic, they are unable to control it or stop it. Examples of some obsessions that may lead to compulsions are an excessive