NOTE
This is not the same as obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), which is a personality disorder.
DESCRIPTION
Obsessive compulsive disorder is a psychiatric disorder that can consist of obsessions, compulsions, or both. The World Health Organization (WHO) has ranked OCD in the top ten most debilitating diseases in terms of loss and income and the decrease of quality of life.
CAUSES
OCD has been the subject of considerable research for a long time, however scientists have not been able to find a definite cause of OCD. It is recognized that certain areas of the brain are different in OCD sufferers to non-sufferers, yet there is not a known mechanism. A controversial theory of the cause of OCD is that it results from depression but many experts believe that depression is a symptom of OCD.
SYMPTOMS
Obsessions are persistent, recurrent and intrusive thoughts and inappropriate images and impulses which sufferers find difficult to ignore or suppress. These disturbances cause anxiety and distress, as the sufferer knows that the thoughts are obsessional and are not based in reality.
Compulsions are mental or physical acts which the person feels forced to perform to relieve obsessions and to prevent stress ('rituals'). These actions are not realistic to what they are designed to prevent. Both the obsessions and/or compulsions will cause impairment in social or occupational functioning.
PREVALENCE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY
This anxiety related condition can affect as many three in a hundred people regardless of age or cultural background. Evidence of OCD can be found historically and through many different cultures. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that OCD is more common, or limited to any particular age, ethnic, social or cultural group.
STIGMA AND MEDIA REPRESENTATION
People can suffer from OCD for many years without a formal diagnosis and this may be because of stigma and feelings of guilt, embarrassment and shame that are associated with the condition. These feelings are due to a lack of understanding of OCD. However, throughout recent years an increase of information shows that many well known figures suffer from OCD. Sufferers include evolutionist Charles Darwin, actor and director Billy Bob Thornton and professional soccer player David Beckham.
TREATMENT
The principle treatment of OCD is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which involves the person talking about how they feel about themselves, the world and other people and how what they do effects their thoughts and feelings. Selective Serotin Re-uptake Inhibitor Medications (SSRI's) can be combined with CBT to reduce anxiety.
HOW TO HELP
When confronting someone close to you with OCD it is really important to find out about the condition and to try to understand what they are going through. Some people ignore the behaviour of the sufferer, which can reinforce their obsessions. It is best to see the psychologist involved (if there is one) to gain advice on when to give reassurance. If the person refuses medical advice or refuses to admit there is a problem offer educational resources and let the person read in their own time and space. Click the 'Where to get help' link on the left for further information.
SOURCES
www.ocd.org
www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinformation/therapies/cognitivebehaviouraltherapy.aspx