Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder associated with unreasonable thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors (compulsions) to relieve the anxiety or discomfort of the thought. Obsessive thoughts can range from the loss of control, to ideas about religion or trying to keep things in order or clean. The compulsive behavior that goes with the thoughts can manifest itself to repetitive rituals such as constantly washing hands, maintaining order, skin picking, ticks. Individuals with OCD are more likely to develop chronic hair pulling, tics, eating disorders and can be predispose to depression, panic disorder or hypochondria.

With obsessive-compulsive disorder, you may realize that your obsessions aren't reasonable, and you may try to ignore them or stop them. But that only increases your distress and anxiety. Ultimately, you feel driven to perform compulsive acts in an effort to ease your stressful feelings. Almost all people may have some sort of rituals such as checking the stove and lights in the house before leaving (even when you are almost certain the stove is off) but it does not affect or interfere with work, study or personal relationships.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for obsessive compulsive disorder is highly effective. This type of therapy focuses on changing thought patterns by altering behavior. Cognitive-behavior therapy teaches the patient to recognize the harmful patterns of thinking and the behavior that goes with it. Along with CBT, exposure and response therapy is also used. The patient will be gradually and purposefully exposed to the obsession which causes fear and asked not to engage in the compulsive behavior. With this type of exposure therapy, the patient should feel less and less anxious as they realize that nothing bad will happen. However, if the OCD is severe, medication may be prescribed along with psychotherapy.


OCD Self Test

Disagree
Agree
  • Do you have unwanted, intrusive or scary thoughts that cause you anxiety?
  • Does your thoughts cause you to perform certain rituals, i.e. handwashing, counting, or repeating words?
  • Have you unsuccessfully tried to suppress these urges? Does trying to suppress the urges cause you extreme anxiety and worry? Do you recognize these things as irrational and get frustrated at yourself for being unable to stop them?
  • Do you worry that if you don't perform these rituals something bad will happen to you or to a loved one? Do you feel that somehow performing these rituals will prevent harm from befalling you?
  • Do you have excessive medical worries and go to doctors looking for reassurance that you are not sick? Do you have excessive medical worries, but are so overcome with fear that you are afraid to go to the doctor because you don't want to find out something is wrong with you?
  • Do you spend an inordinate amount of time on the internet looking up medical topics and then fearing you have some sort of disease?
  • Do you often ask friends or family members for reassurance that you are OK? Are they getting annoyed that you constantly ask them the same questions over and over?
  • Do you have excessive fears of taking medications or inadvertently ingesting something that will somehow cause you to have a "bad reaction"? Are you avoiding certain foods because you worry you will have an allergic reaction?
  • Do you avoid situations where you may possibly inhale or come into contact with something you fear will somehow contaminate you if you touch or even go near certain liquids, cleaning products, perfumes etc.
  • Do you sometime worry that you will lose control and hurt a loved one or stranger? Does this fear cause you to try to avoid being alone with your child, or prevent you from going places?
  • Are you ashamed and horrified by the thought that you might harm someone?
  • Do you often look into the rear view mirror while driving to make sure you did not inadvertently run someone over? Do you often actually turn the car around to check that you didn't hit a person or animal?
  • Are you sometimes overcome with fear that you will lose control and either say or do something inappropriate in either a work or social setting?
  • Do you excessively worry about your sexual preference? Do you have an irrational fear of not being heterosexual?
  • Has your obsessions and compulsions interfered with your social, work and/or home life?