Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

A person with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) suffers from severe, recurrent, thoughts (obsessions) or rituals (compulsions), which they feel they cannot control. Rituals such as hand washing, counting, checking, or cleaning are often performed to keep from having or stop obsessive thoughts.   By performing these rituals, they only get temporary relief, and not performing them increases anxiety. Left untreated, obsessions and the need to perform rituals can take over a person's life. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a chronic, relapsing illness. However, effective treatments have been developed to help people with OCD.

Research shows that OCD is an abnormal functioning of brain circuitry, in a part of the brain called the striatum. OCD is not caused by problems or attitudes learned in childhood such as an emphasis on cleanliness; or a belief that certain thoughts are dangerous or unacceptable. People with OCD have patterns of brain activity that differ from people with other mental illnesses or people with no mental illness at all.  Patients with OCD treated with both behavioral therapy and medication produce changes in the stria

Treatments for OCD have been developed through research.  These treatments which are a combination od medications and behavioral therapy are often effective. Several medications have been proven effective in helping people with OCD.   It is often a trial and error if one drug is not effective, others should be tried.  A type of behavioral therapy known as exposure and response prevention for treating OCD has been shown to be effective.  With this type of therapy a person is deliberately and voluntarily exposed to whatever triggers the obsessive thoughts, and then is taught techniques to avoid performing the compulsive rituals and to deal with the anxiety.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is often accompanied by depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, or other anxiety disorders.  When a person also has other disorders, OCD is more difficult to diagnose and treat.  Symptoms of OCD can also coexist and may even be part of a number of other mental disorders.