Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Alternative Names

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

What is Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterizing by unreasonable thoughts and fears that make you to do repetitive behaviors. People with OCD may understand that these obsessions are not reasonable and they even may try to resist them, but it only increases their distress and anxiety. Ultimately, you feel that you have to perform compulsive acts in an effort to ease your stressful feelings.

OCD often concentrates on such themes as a fear of getting contaminated by germs. People with OCD ease their contamination fears by compulsively washing their hands until they become sore and chapped. Thoughts of obsessive-compulsive behavior may be repeated despite all your efforts.

Signs and symptoms

The most common symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder are:

• Anxiety
• Motor or verbal tics
• Nervousness
• Repeated actions (rituals) such as hand washing that do not bring you pleasure and take at least an hour a day
• Repeated thoughts or feelings (obsessions) such as fear of dirt
• Unwanted thoughts or feelings you believe you cannot control

In some cases, obsessive compulsive-disorder may cause serious symptoms including:

Being a danger to yourself or others, including threatening, irrational or suicidal behavior

Hearing voices or seeing things that are not there (hallucinations)

Inability to care for your basic needs

Possible complications

There is a row of the possible complications of obsessive-compulsive disorder:

• Suicidal thoughts and behavior
• Alcohol or substance abuse
• Other anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Contact dermatitis from frequent hand washing
• Inability to attend work or school
• Troubled relationships
• Overall poor quality of life

What causes

The exact cause of obsessive-compulsive disorder is not known. According to research there may be a problem with the way one part of the brain sends information to another part. Deficit of serotonin may be one of the causes of this problem.

Scientists suppose that problems related to infections such as strep throat or scarlet fever, can appear suddenly and make its symptoms worse in some children.

Prevention

The scientists do not know the exact way to prevent obsessive-compulsive disorder. You may keep OCD from deterioration by getting treatment as soon as possible.

Treatment

There is no effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Treatments for OCD are directed to control symptoms. It also teach you certain strategies to resist obsessions and compulsions. OCD is usually treated with medication, psychotherapy or a combination of the two.

You may take such medicines for obsessive-compulsive disorder as:

• Antianxiety medications- benzodiazepines (alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium) and clonazepam (Klonopin))
• Antipsychotic medications- risperidone (Risperdal), quetiapine (Seroquel) and olanzapine (Zyprexa)
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors- citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil) and sertraline (Zoloft)
• Tricyclic antidepressants- clomipramine

Psychotherapy for obsessive compulsive disorder

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (to teach you strategies to resist with obsessions and compulsions)
• Talk therapy

There are some alternative therapies that are used in combination with traditional medical treatments including:

• Acupuncture
• Massage therapy
• Yoga