Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Pharmacological treatment is based on the evidence that serotonin is a key chemical involved in obsessive compulsive disorder. Studies have proven that serotonin based antidepressants have been evidently effective.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that is the fourth most common mental illness in the U.S. (8). OCD affects five million Americans, or one in five people (3). This is a serious mental disorder that causes people to think and act certain things repetitively in order to calm the anxiety produced by a certain fear. Unlike compulsive drinking or gambling, OCD compulsions do not give the person pleasure; rather, the rituals are performed to obtain relief from the discomfort caused by obsessions (2). OCD is more common than schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or panic disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (6). This disorder can be therapeutically treated, but not cured.

Evidence based research has shown that cognitive-behavioral therapy is the preferred method of psychotherapy. Historically behavioral therapy was first used for the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder. Behavioral therapy concentrated on the exposure to fearful stimuli. Cognitive therapy was then used and focused on responsibilities, over importance of thought, controlling thoughts, and estimation of threats. Both these approaches were found to be very effective and they combined them creating cognitive-behavioral therapy (Stein, 2002). This therapy involves response prevention and exposure to stimuli. Response prevention is when the individual has OCD stays away from compulsive thoughts and practices. An examples of this include the compulsive behavior of washing your hands 7 times before leaving the bathroom; and decreasing the amount of handwashes gradually until the desired results are achieved. Exposure refers to the systematic stimulation that is repetitive and that can last for a long period of time. An example of this is the exposure to dirt and germs for an individual who gets extreme anxiety from the possibility of coming into contact with these substances (Abramowitz, et. al, 2009). This treatment can be done in a group setting, family setting or as an individual (Stein, 2002). Psychotherapy is also very useful for educating those with obsessive compulsive disorder to think differently, how to behave, and proper reaction to anxiety provoking situations that cause the need to act out the obsession with the compulsive

Obsessive compulsion disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder described by irrational thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead you to do repetitive tasks (compulsions) (Obsessive Compulsion Disorder, 2013). When a person has obsessive-compulsive disorder, they may realize that their obsessions aren't accurate, and they may try to overlook them but that only increases their suffering and worry. Eventually, you feel driven to perform compulsive acts to ease your stressful feelings. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is often driven by a reason, cause, or fear for example, a fear of germs. To calm the feeling of this fear, a person may compulsively wash their hands until they're sore and chapped. Despite their efforts, thoughts of obsessive-compulsive behavior keep coming back. This leads to more ritualistic behavior and a brutal cycle of obsessive-compulsive disorder. OCD is the fourth most common mental disorder, and is diagnosed nearly as often as asthma and diabetes (Who We Are, 2012). In the United States, one in 50 adults suffers from OCD. Obsessive compulsive disorder affects children, adolescents, and adults. About one third to one half of adults with OCD report a childhood onset of the disorder, they felt these anxieties but were not diagnosed or felt no need to be diagnosed until the compulsions over whelmed them (Who We Are, 2012). The phrase obsessive compulsive has been used to describe excessively meticulous, perfectionistic, absorbed, or otherwise fixated person. While

The main way to treat obsessive compulsive disorder is through psychotherapy. Finding out the right diagnosis is the first step from freeing yourself from obsessive compulsive disorder, and they do that by having a mental health professional ask you questions. When you take therapy, they find out what triggers it, and how severe it is. “The confrontation can occur in real life events or in the imagination.” High levels of stress can trigger the person with OCD. Psychotherapy exposes you to your fears and your obsessions. You have to get enough sleep, break down your problems down into little chunks, and deal with immediately with your therapist. If taking therapy isn’t enough to control your disorder, then your therapist will give you medication. Clomipramine, Fluvoxamine, Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, and Sertraline are some of the medications that the therapist might prescribe to you. As well, it is normally not unusual to have to try several medications before finding one that works. If none of the medication works properly, doctors will combine medications to see if that will help. Nevertheless, people react differently to therapy and when they are put on medication, so when looking for help it has to be individual. Lots of people have OCD, curing it may be impossible, but keeping it under control

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

Psychotherapy: exposure and response preventions, most effective treatment for OCD, exposes client to feared objects or obsessions gradually until client can be around object and not feel the

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Related Disorders is a classification located within the DSM-5 Manual. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Other Related Disorders include Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Hoarding Disorder, Trichotillomania or hair-pulling disorder, Excoriation or skin- picking disorder, substance and medication induced OCD, OCD due to another medical condition, and unspecified OCD and related disorders such as body-focused repetitive disorder are just a few of the disorders found within this classification.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a psychological disorder where patients are plagued with repeated obsessions or compulsions or, most commonly, both. The exact cause of OCD has not been known yet, but it is significantly common among relatives. Although there is no cure for it, detecting it early and treating it properly can help in the majority of cases. OCD affects all aspects of individuals’ lives and sometimes could lead to a sever depression. In addition, A study was conducted regarding the prevalence of OCD has estimated that OCD is the “fourth most common mental illness after phobias, substance abuse, and major depression.” Moreover,

obsessive compulsive disorder, often referred to as OCD, is a mental health disorder that may affect people of all gender, age and walks of life. It is a common, chronic and long-lasting mental disorder where the person affected has a series of obsessions and compulsions episodes.

A very simple definition of this disorder is “unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings” (Clark, Radomsky). There are many factors rather than just one instance that has to occur for a person to be able to be diagnosed with OCD. It has to repeatedly occur and has to be extreme that it interferes with a person’s daily life. An obsession is where one has a thought, image, or impulse which keeps occurring. The compulsion is the action in which one person does to relieve the obsession. A person will lose control of their mind if they are cannot perform their compulsive act. The Westwood Institute for Anxiety Disorder explains that “OCD is caused by damage to a specific part of the brain called the basal ganglia” (Gorbis). This means not only is there a mental aspect but also a biological aspect of this disorder. Once these researchers found where the primary area for OCD is located, they researched further to define more clearly where it is

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, a common disorder, refers to the excessive, unreasonable, and intrusive obsessions or compulsions, which cause distress to an individual. Obsessions are intrusive thoughts, persistent ideas, and impulses that invade an individual’s consciousness. On the other hand, compulsions are rigid and repetitive, or “rituals” that an individual must perform in order to prevent anxiety. In fact, this disorder is classified as an anxiety disorder because the obsessions cause great anxiety to the individual, while the compulsions are aimed at reducing the anxiety (National Institute of Mental Health). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder affects about 2.2 million adults in the US, sticking men and women equally, and usually appears in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood (National Institute of Mental Health). One-third of adults develop symptoms as

Treatment for OCD is no different than any other anxiety disorder. The treatments consist of medication and behavioral therapy. The medication sometimes is not effective but another medication should be tried in the non-effective ones place. Some medications that are used to treat OCD are: clomipramine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine and paroxetine. Behavioral therapy is another effective treatment for OCD. Therapist use a method called “exposure and response prevention.” This method has proven useful in the treatment of OCD patients because the patient is voluntarily put in a situation that could possibly trigger and OCD attack,

Obsessive compulsive disorder is influenced by neurological factors with symptoms such as repeating steps, continuously washing their hands, and having a fear of objects like germs. Although there is no cure, there are treatments such as medication and therapy that can help lessen the patient’s anxiety and discomfort.

Knowing what OCD is the first step in understanding the psychology of the disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a common, chronic and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over” (NIMH). The obsessive part of OCD is intrusive, repetitive thoughts the cause anxiety, and the compulsion part is the need to perform an act or ritual repeatedly. The obsession causes anxiety and the compulsion relieves the anxiety.