Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
What is OCD?
OCD stands for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. In order to be diagnosed with OCD, someone will experience obsessions, compulsions, or both. OCD can be seen in about 1-2% of the population, and is also seen in patients with depression, PTSD, ADHD, and other diagnoses.
What is an Obsession?
An obsession is defined as an unwanted, involuntary thought that causes anxiety or worry. Examples of these thoughts are:
I’m dirty
I’m going to get sick
I’m going to get somebody else sick
Concerns with contamination
I’m going to hurt someone even though I’d never want to hurt anyone
I’m going to be responsible for a disaster or a fire
Something bad is going to happen
Fear of losing control
Religious obsessions
Unwanted violent or sexual thoughts
Needing to know or remember things
Perfectionism
Fear of losing things
Superstitions
Nearly everyone experiences intermittent involuntary thoughts, but these thoughts can be called obsessions when the intensity of the thoughts or the amount of time spent on the thoughts starts to interfere with your day. Sometimes, when these obsessions are bothersome, someone might develop routine, rituals, actions, or avoidance to “undo” the thought. These actions are called compulsions.
What is a Compulsion?
A compulsion in OCD is an action done excessively to decrease anxiety. Examples of compulsions are:
Excessive handwashing
Excessive showering or excessive bathing
Excessive cleaning
Ordering things
Checking things
Repeating things or rewriting things
Arranging things in a particular way
Saying things out loud a certain way
Saying things in our heads in a certain way
Counting things
Performing actions in a certain way
Doing things a certain number of times
Counting letters
Making sure things are “even” or feel “just right”
“Evening up” actions
“Undoing” things or “Cancelling” things
Avoiding places
Avoiding words
Avoiding other things in a particular way
Religious activities must be performed in a particular way and excessively with extra care
Excessive prayer
Hording
Treatment for OCD
There are two popular approaches for OCD, medication and therapy. Additionally, there is transcranial magnetic stimulation, which was approved in 2018 by the FDA for OCD. Another approach, usually reserved for severe cases that don’t respond to other treatments, is deep brain stimulation. Depending on the level of severity of the symptoms, a therapist or psychiatrist will recommend a treatment targeted for your particular symptoms.
The National Institute of Mental Health details these treatments and more on their site about OCD.
A clinical research study may be an option, click here to contact the Center for Emotional Fitness to see if we have a study available for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Eligible study participants may receive investigational medication and compensation for time and travel.
