Ocd Essay

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) was once considered a rare disease, but today, it is one of the most prevalent psychological disorders present among society. OCD is described as “intrusive thoughts or images (obsessions), which increase anxiety, and by repetitive or ritualistic actions (compulsions), which decrease anxiety” (Stein, 2002). In the DSM-IV, Obsessive compulsive disorder can be diagnosed through observable behaviours or repetitive mental habits. Symptoms include; the constant washing of hands, and/or fears concerning danger to others or to self – resulting in frequent paranoia. OCD has been linked with lesions in various neurological circuits of the brain due to the consumption of dopamine agonists (for example, cocaine). In order for obsessive compulsive disorder to take clinical significance, dysfunction and distress must follow symptoms. The treatment of OCD was initially developed in the Freudian era, as psychoanalytical treatment was seen as the most effective treatment at the time for mind management. Conversely, recent empirical evidence proved otherwise. Pharmacological therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy, also known as systematic desensitization are nowadays the most prominent remedies used in treating obsessive compulsive disorder.

Anxiety, also known as generalized anxiety disorder, is categorized by Mayo Clinic as “ongoing anxiety and worry that are difficult to control and interfere with day-to-day activities”(“Generalized”). According to Mayo Clinics article Generalized Anxiety Disorder that not only adults but also children and adolescent who have this disorder that “Your anxiety, worry or physical symptoms cause you significant distress in social, work or other areas of your life.” Everyone experiences anxiety at one point in their life it; however, becomes a disorder once it starts to interfere with the everyday life of that person. The symptoms of anxiety in adults are persistent worrying over normally insignificant details in life, overthinking, having difficulty

There have been no genes identified specifically for OCD, although research shows that genes do play a part in the development of OCD. Development of OCD during childhood runs in families. If one or both parents have OCD, there is a bigger chance that the child will have OCD, but it is still a very low chance. Other than this, there is no proven cause of OCD. Research shows that OCD is the result of problems with communication between the front part of the brain and deeper structures. These two brain structures use the chemical serotonin and low levels of serotonin is thought to be involved in OCD. Therefore, drugs that increase serotonin levels often help with the symptoms of OCD. Another form of treatment for OCD is called cognitive behavior therapy and has shown to be effective in both children and adults. This type of therapy involves retraining your thoughts and routines so that the compulsions are no longer necessary. This therapy usually exposes you to your fear or obsession and teaches you healthy ways to deal with it. People with OCD

Obsessive compulsive disorder, also know as ODC, is a complex mental illness that involves repeating thoughts know as obsessions and repeating actions know as compulsions (Parks 8). OCD affects males and females of all types (Parks 8). According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately one-third of OCD cases in adults begin in the childhood stages (Chong and Hovanec 11). Scientists believe that OCD is related to a faulty brain circuitry that could possibly be hereditary (Parks 9). Theories based on more recent studies show that OCD is a biological brain defect (Sebastian 32). It affects the frontal lobes of the brain (Ken and Jacob 1). Many OCD symptoms have been recorded since the 15th century (Sebastian 21). By the 19th century, science had developed more and explained that OCD was a mental and emotional disorder instead of supernatural forces (Sebastian 29). OCD is two times more common of a disease than schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (Ken and Jacob 1). There are three forms of OCD. The three forms are episodic, continuous, and deteriorative. Episodic OCD has recurring episodes of illness lasting for a limited time.

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

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, also known as just simply OCD, affects from 1% to more than 5% of the total population. This paper gives an overview of current diagnosis criteria, statistical data, causes of the disorder as well as current treatment options. While in the past, most clinicians use drug therapy to treat OCD patients, today treatment options are focusing on a combination of psychological therapy combined with drug therapy in an effort to address underlying problems causing the manifestation of OCD while still treating the symptoms of the disorder.

Having generalized anxiety is more than just a reaction one experiences during stressful times. Rather, it is a feeling of constant paranoia, of constant fear, that takes over your daily routines and every day life. Anxiety is more than being anxious about an upcoming midterm, of an upcoming speech or presentation – it is having mental breakdowns, panic attacks and obsessive thoughts that consume your imagination, your thoughts. Generalized anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) preludes into something greater than living in constant fear of either contracting an illness or being contaminated by germs. They act as inhibitors, preventing healthy wellbeing, positive emotions and healthy relationships. While OCD and anxiety play a huge

According to the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder foundation ( (International OCD Foundation, 2016), “OCD is a medical brain disorder that causes problems in information processing.” They compare OCD to a brain spasm; the brain freezes on a certain thought and cannot move forward. The brain is incapable of dealing with thoughts of worry or doubt. This causes many side effects that can clearly distinguish a person as OCD. Obsessive compulsive disorder is a disease that many people know of, but few people know about. Many people associate repeated washing of hands, or flicking of switches, and even cleanliness with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), however there are many more symptoms, and there are also explanations for those symptoms. In this paper, I will describe what obsessive compulsive disorder is, explain some of the effects of it, and explain why it happens. I will also attempt to prove that while medication doesn’t cure OCD, it vastly improves one’s quality of life. Furthermore, I intend to show that behavior therapy (cognitive based therapy) is another useful tool in helping a person to overcome their OCD.

Living a life of regret and anxiety usually from past situations that compulsive patients may have experienced is difficult to overcome. Statistics from a common Psychiatric Department from the University of California, San Diego concluded one in forty adults and one in 200 children are living with symptoms of OCD. Those results consists of about five-million Americans that are tied between their own voices and the actual reality we are living in. Opportunities of treatment for families, groups, and even individuals are mistakenly passed by. Every therapy center is focusing on taking each obsession and making that less and less interesting, finally until the actions of the disorder are totally eliminated. (OCD Treatment

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder(OCD) within the Cognitive Theory (CT) model in the realm of explaining the causes of OCD. We identify what this disorder is, and touch on its history. In relation to CT we look at the different sections of CT: Exaggerated responsibility, importance of thoughts, exaggerations of threats, and perfectionism. Following this we look at the treatment options for OCD.

These symptoms, mentioned previously, all lead to the conclusion that the person experiencing or performing them may be suffering from OCD; however, the more important question is what has led that patient to these symptoms? OCD may be caused due to biological factors. People with first-degree family members that have been diagnosed with OCD are more likely to experience OCD than other people with no OCD on their family members’ medical records. Some studies suggest that OCD is heritable as genes have potential to contribute “27%-47% of the patient’s likelihood to be diagnosed with OCD (Abramowitz and Taylor, 2009), but specific genes have not yet been identified. The other ≈50% are linked to environmental factors. Some aspects of the

The primary intention when writing this paper is to clearly articulate how chronic and severe OCD is for those with the diagnosis and to help to remove the stigma and embarrassment associated with it (Pittenger, C., et al 2005, November). To begin to understand this disorder, one must look to the historical origins of it. In the 1600s, having symptoms of OCD were perceived as symptoms of melancholia, a form of severe depression. For hundreds of years, OCD went misunderstood and undiagnosed. It was not until the beginning and middle of the 20th century that two figures brought OCD to the level of understanding and diagnosis that we have as a combined disorder today (Karr, L. J. 2010, August 29). These two men were Sigmund Freud and Pierre Janet, both pillars of the modern psychology. While these men disagreed about the causes of compulsive behaviors and obsessions, they created a better understanding of OCD through their theories and research. This paved the way for the research done by future psychiatrists and mental health professionals into the relationship between anxiety, obsessions, and compulsive behavior.

Though Pozza et al.’s article does state that (G)CBT and ERP are both the most effective treatments for OCD, it also makes it known that there is no conclusive evidence done thus far that shows this to be a fact (Pozza et al. 2012). Although there is yet to be conclusive evidence, Pozza et al. states that there is a positive correlation for patients in CBT and the improvement of their OCD (2015). They also go on to state that GCBT seems to be a cost saving channel of treatment, as costs are high for individual psychotherapy sessions (Pozza et al. 2015). Pozza et al. endorses the use of CBT, GCBT, and exposure and response prevention therapy (2015).

Psychotherapy treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy are used by therapists to ensure obsessions decrease within the OCD patient. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a combination of Cognitive Therapy (CT) and Behavioural Therapy. In the instance of OCD, the most prominent type of therapy is a behavioural therapy called Exposure and Response Therapy (ERP). ERP is the process where the patient imagines or is directly exposed to what triggers their obsessions. This type of therapy uses gradual exposure, where the triggering factors decrease overtime to creating little or no anxiety (CAMH, 2001). In ERP, patients must first create a list of situations which may trigger their compulsions from least to greatest. When this is done,

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, commonly known as OCD, is a type of anxiety disorder and was one of the three original neuroses as defined by Freud. It is characterized by "recurrent, persistent, unwanted, and unpleasant thoughts (obsessions) or repetitive, purposeful ritualistic behaviors that the person feels driven to perform (compulsions)." (1) The prime feature that differentiates OCD from other obsessive or compulsive disorders is that the sufferer understands the irrationality or excess of the obsessions and compulsions, but is unable to stop them. What differentiates people with OCD from other usually healthy people with milder forms of obsession and compulsion is the fact that the obsessions