Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

The symptoms are compulsive behavior, agitation, compulsive hoarding, hypervigilance, impulsivity, meaningless repetition of own words, repetitive movements, ritualistic behaviors, social isolation, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and food aversion. The symptoms may not harm a person severely, but they may make the person want to harm themselves. People with OCD will have fears of things, such as germs, dirt, and other toxins, that are not normal to them. These fears may force people to do unnecessary things, like clean obsessively, making everything perfect to them, and not wanting to go anywhere that may have toxins. (Baldridge and Piotrowski, Obsessive-Compulsive

There are a wide range of OCD symptoms, but unfortunately, research has showed that there is a long waiting process between the time when an individual begins with OCD symptoms and when they get first-time treatment. With an early diagnosis and treatment, the maximum benefit to the patient will be. Therapies, exercises, balanced-healthy nutrition and others will improved life style and reduce anxiety and fears to help in managing some aspects of an obsessive-compulsive

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating neuropsychiatric disorder with a lifetime prevalence of 2 to 3 percent and is estimated to be the 10th leading cause of disability in the world. Patients with OCD experience recurrent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive, stereotyped behaviors (compulsions) that last for at least one hour per day and significantly interfere with the individual 's normal level of functioning. The intrusive obsessional thoughts

Everyone has unwanted thoughts, that is normal, but someone suffering from OCD cannot rid these thoughts from his or her mind. For instance, Krissy McDermott stated it best when she proclaimed, “OCD is like having a bully inside your head and nobody else can see it.” One dangerous side effect of having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is that of suicidal thoughts and/or actions. Due to the feeling of being “different”, the patient may feel low self-esteem which has the ability to morph into suicidal actions. Other diseases that relate to OCD are hoarding, excoriation disorder, and body dysmorphic disorder. Hoarding is a disease in which the patient feels the need to keep everything for fear of needing it in the future. This is a very different type of OCD seeing as most people feel the need to have things very neat and in order to satisfy anxiety. Excoriation disorder is the constant picking at the skin causing lesions. This is more common in female patients than in males. Finally, body dysmorphic disorder is the preoccupation with perceived defects of flaws in physical appearance that lead to repetitive behaviors or mental acts in response to the

The definition of Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is typically defined by the disorders characteristics. The characteristics of OCD are obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions often manifest from unreasonable beliefs, thoughts, and fears. Compulsions often manifest in the form of ritualistic behaviors. Mayoclinic.org explains that individuals with OCD can have one of the other where the issues of compulsions or obsessions are concerned (Diseases and Conditions). “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder” written by Gyula Bokor, MD, and Peter D. Anderson further distinguishes OCD by stating that “(OCD) consists of a pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control to the degree that flexibility, openness, and efficiency are impaired” (2014, p. 117). There are a number of disorders that are comorbid to OCD, meaning in the presence of one or more disorder. Bokor and Anderson state that often times Tourette’s syndrome and Tic disorders are a frequent comorbidity with OCD (2014, p. 117). Psychotic disorders like schizophrenia has been reported a comorbidity of OCD. Bokor and Anderson state that the mental composition of a patient with OCD can lie in comorbidity with numerous psychiatric disorders as well like panic disorder, social phobia, and posttraumatic stress disorder (2014, p. 118). The National Institute of Mental Health’s website explains that there are a number of treatments for OCD. The two most predominant forms of

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), is a mental condition that affects more than three million (1-3%) people in the US. While most all people have some form of obsession or even compulsion, those who suffer from OCD have constant tormenting thoughts and intrusions that affect the way they function in daily living. Most cases are diagnosed during childhood and last throughout the life of the patient if proper treatment is not sought. While the disorder affects both men and women, it is more common in males and has an earlier onset age. Involved in having OCD are both obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted thoughts, urges, or mental images that cause fear or worry 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).

OCD is, as suggested by the name, defined by the presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both. The American Psychiatric Association ([APA], 2013) outlines obsessions as intrusive and anxiety-provoking recurrent thoughts, images, or urges which a person tries to suppress or neutralize. Compulsions are identified as behaviors or mental acts performed excessively in a rigid manner as an attempt to alleviate distress caused by obsessions or prevent a dreaded event (APA, 2013). Obsessions and compulsions reach a clinically significant level when they absorb an exorbitant amount of time (e.g., one hour daily), or impair a person in one or more major life domains (e.g., social or occupational functioning), and cannot be better explained by substance use or another medical or psychological condition (APA, 2013).

“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

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

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder(OCD), according to the American Psychiatric Association, is defined as "an anxiety disorder in which time-consuming obsessions and compulsions significantly interfere with a person’s routine, making it difficult to work or to have a normal social life." This, in layman's terms, is simply unwanted thoughts, and actions that cause anxiety, impairment, or distress at the job, in relationships and in society. The most common types of OCD are categorized by: Checking, which refers to an intrusive thought that if one does not check, for example, stove knobs, or if the lights are off, that something bad may occur. This leads one to the compulsion to check such things, and in doing so relieves the anxiety one may have

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a mental health disorder in which a person gets entangled in a chain reaction of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that cause anxiety. (“Obsessive-compulsive disorder,” 2013) Compulsions are irresistible urges to behave in a certain way, especially against one 's conscious wishes to combat the obsessions. Common obsessions are contamination, losing control, harm, and perfectionism and are often associated with uncomfortable feelings, such as fear, disgust, and doubt. (Foundation & IOCDF, 2014) Obsessions hinder the person’s daily life as they cannot be controlled, they must be acted upon to even briefly relieve the severe anxiety it causes, and the person can often tell that these thoughts are excessive and unnecessary but can do nothing to stop them. “Compulsions are incredibly repetitive behaviors or thoughts that a person uses with the intention of neutralizing, counteracting, or making their obsessions go away”. (Foundation & IOCDF, 2014) Common compulsions are washing and/or cleaning, double-checking, repeating movements and/or activities, and mentally counting, reviewing, and praying. These compulsions are completely temporary and usually only relieve the anxiety from obsessions momentarily.

Obsessive compulsive disorder, abbreviated as OCD, is defined by irrational thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead you to do repetitive behaviors (compulsions). It is possible to have only obsessions or only compulsions and still have OCD. Obsessions are thoughts that intrude repeatedly into awareness and are experienced as irrational, unwanted, and difficult to control or stop. Common obsessive thoughts can include: fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt, fear of causing harm to yourself or others, excessive focus on religious or moral ideas, order and symmetry: the idea that everything must line up “just right”, superstitions; excessive attention to something considered lucky or unlucky (Robinson). Compulsions are actions that one is compelled to perform; they are also experienced as irrational and difficult to control. Common compulsive behaviors can include: excessive double-checking of things, repeatedly checking in on loved ones to make sure they’re safe, counting, tapping, repeating certain words, or doing other senseless things to reduce anxiety, ordering or arranging things, praying excessively or engaging in rituals triggered by religious fear (Robinson). Obsessions and compulsions are time consuming, inhabiting at least one hour per day, but often much longer periods. Individuals with OCD don’t always realize that their actions are unreasonable. OCD often focuses on a theme; an example would be a fear of getting contaminated by germs, the result would be

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, involves anxious thoughts or rituals one feels and can't control. . For many years, OCD was thought to be rare. The actual number of people with OCD was hidden, because people would hide their problem to avoid embarrassment. Some recent studies show that as many as 3 million Americans ages 18 to 54 may have OCD at any one time. This is about 2.3% of the people in this age group. It strikes men and women in approximately equal numbers and usually first appears in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. One-third of adults with OCD report having experienced their first symptoms as children. The course of the disease is variable. Symptoms may come

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, also known as OCD, is a disorder that affects about two to three percent of the population (UOCD). Knowing what OCD is and who it affects is just step one in understanding the psychology of this disorder. The psychological symptoms of OCD can be quite varied which can make it difficult to diagnose. Understanding the therapy techniques and how people with OCD live their daily lives is one of the most vital part in the psychology of OCD. While the roots of the disorder may be complex, understanding the disorder in everyday life is quite simple.