Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder, more specifically, an anxiety disorder. OCD is manifested in a variety of forms, but is most commonly characterized by a subject's obsessive (repetitive, distressing, intrusive) thoughts and related compulsions (tasks or rituals) which attempt to neutralize the obsessions.
Modern research has revealed that OCD is much more common than previously thought. An estimated 1 in 50 adolescents and adults is thought to have OCD. Because of the condition's personal nature, and the lingering stigma that surrounds it, there may be many unaccounted-for OCD sufferers, and the actual percentages could be even higher.
The typical OCD sufferer performs tasks (or compulsions) to seek relief from obsessions. To others, these tasks may appear odd and unnecessary. But for the sufferer, such tasks can feel critically important, and must be performed in particular ways to ward off dire consequences and to stop the stress from building up. Examples of these tasks: repeatedly checking that one's parked car has been locked before leaving it; turning lights on and off a set number of times before exiting a room; repeatedly washing hands at regular intervals throughout the day.
Obessions are defined by:
Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress.
The thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems.
The person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action.
The person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind.
Compulsions are defined by:
Repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly.
The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts either are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or are clearly excessive. that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind
What Are The Symptoms of OCD?
Repeated hand-washing.
Specific counting systems - i.e. counting in groups of four, arranging objects in groups of three, having objects grouped in odd/even numbered groups, etc. One serious symptom which stems from this is "counting" your steps, e.g. you must take twelve steps to the car in the morning, etc.
Having to "cancel-out" bad thoughts with a good thought. Examples are: Imagining harming a child and having to imagine (for example) a child playing happily to "cancel" it out. Unwanted sexual thoughts such as fear of being gay (or straight if you are gay) and trying to make certain whether the same sex arouses the sufferer.
A fear of contamination; some sufferers may fear the presence of human body secretion such as saliva, sweat, tears or mucus, or excretions such as urine or feces. Some OCD sufferers even fear the soap they're using is contaminated.
A need for both sides of the body to feel even. As in, a person with OCD might walk down a sidewalk and step on a crack with the ball of their left foot. They might then feel the need to step on another crack with ball of their right foot. Also, if one hand gets wet, the sufferer may feel very uncomfortable if the other isn't.
However, there are many other symptoms. It is important to remember you must be diagnosed by your doctor to officially suffer from OCD in medical terms; furthermore if you do have any symptoms above it is not a firm sign you do not have OCD and vice-versa.
Diagnosis
Since no straight forward test is available, the following steps are taken to come to a proper diagnosis:
Close clinical examination of emotional past.
Criteria for diagnosis.
Current symptoms.
Differential diagnosis.
Examination of family history
Since OCD can range from mild to severe, four essential factors are used in the diagnosis of OCD that distinguish OCD from ordinary, mildly intrusive worries or brooding. They are the following:
Symptoms cause significant distress.
Symptoms take up more than 1 hour a day.
Symptoms significantly interfere with work, relationships, or daily functioning.
The person recognizes that his or her obsessions and compulsions are unreasonable or excessive.
Listen to a podcast - as Positive-Pathways therapist, Michael Connelly discusses OCD treatment options with
Dr. Howard Gurr:
http://drgurr.podomatic.com/entry/2008-09-09T15_21_19-07_00