Ocd Essay

Like most mental illnesses, this disorder is not exclusive to affecting individuals of a certain age group, race or socioeconomic status. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, OCD affects about 2.2 million American adults and about one-third of adults with the disorder developed symptoms as children. Unfortunately, there are several obstacles and misunderstandings that have lead the majority to think that this disorder is rarely found in children or adolescents. There is a stigma about mental health and seeking proper treatment as well as misdiagnosis. Children that present with OCD symptoms may be diagnosed with conduct disorder, ADHD, or depression. Even then it depends on the parents or caretakers ability to recognize the problem and the

The following is an overview about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), one of the most difficult psychiatric illness to be understood. The way of doing certain behaviors, thoughts or routines repeatedly is the essential condition of a person with OCD. In general, it is known and described by someone who is extremely perfectionist and meticulous. Unfortunately, they do realize those habits and be able to stop doing it. Common behaviors are such as checking locks, doors, stove bottoms, and lights, hand washing, counting things, or having recurrent intrusive thoughts of hurting oneself or somebody else.

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.

Nursing diagnosis for OCD include Severe Anxiety which may be related to Feelings of inadequacy and recurring thoughts. The goal is to help patient demonstrate ability to cope effectively with stressful situations without resorting to obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors. Intervention for accomplishing this goal is to demonstrate effective coping mechanisms for dealing with anxiety which include relaxation techniques and stress management. Also, demonstrate interest in client as a person and assist to reduce present level of anxiety. This is because whatever the client feels anxious of will increase the ritualistic behaviors.

OCD sufferers can also be subject to hyperscrupulosity, which involves extreme worry and anxiety for the safety of others. Another form of OCD is body dysmorphia. This is a condition where people become excessively focused on some body part which they perceive to be grossly malformed (1). Hypochondriacs -people who have an extreme fear of sickness - fall into this category of OCD. General behaviors that may indicate OCD are: excessive washing, repeating, checking, touching, counting, ordering/arranging, hoarding, or praying (2). OCD patients live in a vicious cycle. They have obsessions about certain things and cause anxiety. To relieve this anxiety, compulsions are performed, and then attention can be paid again to the obsessions that have not truly been alleviated. The difference between OCD sufferers and other people, is the OCD sufferers use up at least an hour of their day thinking or doing these incessant tasks and they interfere with the person's work, social life, and relationships (2).

Firstly, psychological therapy, also called psychotherapy, treats the patient through exposure, group therapy, hypnotherapy, and response prevention to get help rid of compulsions and/or obsessions deep within a person’s conscious. Exposure involves exposing a patient to the stimuli that cause anxiety for a long period time over repeated times. Group therapy is similar to Alcoholics Anonymous involving patients suffering similar symptoms or who are under the same type of obsession or compulsion. This treatment is meant to help others with the illness and learn more about their condition. Hypnotherapy involves a hypnotist and the patient and the hypnotist will try to rid of the patient’s obsessions or compulsions while under hypnosis. Response prevention aims at helping the patient to avoid from performing tasks compulsively. Finally, drug use is believed by professionals to be successful at treating patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Since one of the causes for the disorder is lack of serotonin, antidepressants recuperate the lost serotonin, such as clomipramine, amitriptyline, imipramine, and much more. Despite all of these treatments available, a person is always capable of

Obsessive compulsive disorder are most effectively treated with Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and/or medication. The class of typically prescribed medications are called serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs). The most effective treatments are Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which is a type of CBT.

There are two treatment options for people with OCD: therapy or drugs. While some literature has argued for the benefits of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and psychosurgery, they are no longer popular options for those with OCD, since they have proven more harmful than good. The same goes for treatment with drugs since it relies on paper cooperation, comes with side effects, and does not last once the patient stops taking

Cognitive behaviorists use Exposure and Response Prevention in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. In Exposure and Response Prevention the subject is exposed to what stimulates their compulsions and offered the choice to have their compulsion or not. This type of therapy allows patients to make the choice to quit reacting to their obsessions. However, not all people have the time or the aptitude for this type of therapy. More people prefer to take medication in order to reduce their anxiety and obsessions. A few examples of the medication that are known to prevent obsessive-compulsive disorder are Zoloft, Prozac, and Anafranil. Unlike the cognitive behavior therapy, medication can have some harmful side effects. These include: upset stomach, changes in the pattern of sleep, excessive sweating, and an increase in suicidal thoughts or behavior. With OCD, love and support can go a long way. Loved ones of someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder can help them cope with the disorder in many ways. Knowledge about the disorder is always helpful and can be used to understand what that person is going through. Relaxing is another way to cope with OCD. Yoga and deep breathing techniques can decrease levels of anxiety. Finally, try to stay on a normal, everyday schedule. Obsessive-compulsive disorder tends to get in the way of living your life as

Patients with OCD are often put on medications such as benzodiazepines to help control the anxiety the obsessive thoughts cause. There is no medication available to stop the obsessive thoughts from happening, but there are medications that help to dull the effects. “Pharmacologic therapy usually includes clomipramine or antidepressant treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, but in dosage ranges higher than those typically used in the treatment of depression”. (Eddy) OCD, similar to depression, is thought to be caused by a lack of serotonin in the brain. With an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) the levels of serotonin in the brain synapses will remain higher, helping to reduce the symptoms of OCD. (Eddy) The patient then can hopefully learn to manage the anxiety, fear and other emotions caused by the involuntary thoughts, and to add other forms of help.

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,

This chapter deals with anxiety, obsessive compulsive and other related disorders. The chapter examines the causes and treatment options for the various disorders using several psychological theories. A close reading of the chapter leads us to conclude that a single theory may not effectively explain the cause(s) or the best therapeutic approach of particular psychological disorder and as such it is important to take an interdisciplinary approach.

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.

All grown-ups and youngsters with OCD report that their fixations cause them huge pain and tension and that they are more regular rather than comparative, nosy contemplations in people without OCD[31]. As far as QoL, people with OCD report an unavoidable lessening contrasted with controls[28]. Youth indicate tricky companion relations, scholastic troubles, rest issues, and take an interest in less recreational exercises than coordinated peers[32,33]. By and large, there is a lower QoL in pediatric females than males[28], yet in grown-ups comparative disturbances are reported[29]. At the point when contrasted with other uneasiness issue and unipolar mind-set issue, a man with OCD is less inclined to be hitched, more inclined to be jobless,

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.