Mental Illness Paper

The following is an overview about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), one of the most difficult psychiatric illness to be understood. The way of doing certain behaviors, thoughts or routines repeatedly is the essential condition of a person with OCD. In general, it is known and described by someone who is extremely perfectionist and meticulous. Unfortunately, they do realize those habits and be able to stop doing it. Common behaviors are such as checking locks, doors, stove bottoms, and lights, hand washing, counting things, or having recurrent intrusive thoughts of hurting oneself or somebody else.

Obsessive-compulsive-disorder,OCD,is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by recurrent,unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and or repetitive behaviors(compulsion). obsessive -compulsive-disorder is a relatively common, if not always recognized, chronic disorder that is often associated with significant distress and impairment in functioning. Due to stigma and lack of recognition,individuals with OCD often must wait many years before they receive a correct diagnosis and indicated treatment.OCD is a condition characterized by intense unwanted,obsessive, thoughts and compulsive rituals like:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by an individual experiencing intrusive thoughts, images, or worries in addition to repetitive, non-functional behaviours that emerge in an effort to suppress anxiety (i.e. compulsions) (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Symptoms are often time-consuming, and can cause considerable functional impairments, contribute to increased social isolation, persistent distress and stigma. Although average age of onset of OCD has typically been thought to occur in early adulthood (Minichiello et al., 1990), there is increasing evidence that children as early as 10 years old experience it (Geller, 2001). Recently, more attention has been directed toward the identification and treatment of OCD symptoms in children and adolescents (Penn et al., 1992; Rapoport and Inoff-Germain, 2000). Childhood OCD has been found to be associated with severe disruption in social and academic functioning, family dysfunction and co-morbid emotional and behavioural problems (Albano, March, & Piacentini, 1999).

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) was once considered a rare disease, but today, it is one of the most prevalent psychological disorders present among society. OCD is described as “intrusive thoughts or images (obsessions), which increase anxiety, and by repetitive or ritualistic actions (compulsions), which decrease anxiety” (Stein, 2002). In the DSM-IV, Obsessive compulsive disorder can be diagnosed through observable behaviours or repetitive mental habits. Symptoms include; the constant washing of hands, and/or fears concerning danger to others or to self – resulting in frequent paranoia. OCD has been linked with lesions in various neurological circuits of the brain due to the consumption of dopamine agonists (for example, cocaine). In order for obsessive compulsive disorder to take clinical significance, dysfunction and distress must follow symptoms. The treatment of OCD was initially developed in the Freudian era, as psychoanalytical treatment was seen as the most effective treatment at the time for mind management. Conversely, recent empirical evidence proved otherwise. Pharmacological therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy, also known as systematic desensitization are nowadays the most prominent remedies used in treating obsessive compulsive disorder.

Imagine feeling like a slave in your own body. Being forced to do ridiculous rituals and having constant compulsions to do things that you know don’t make sense. This is what it is like to live with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). In the United States alone, over 2 million people suffer from OCD (Parks, 2011) but no one has found the cause of this disorder. It affects people of all races, genders and socioeconomic backgrounds (Parks, 2011). Since it’s discovery and modern conceptualization, there has been an ongoing debate whether OCD is caused by environmental factors or if it is inherited through genetics. However, since both sides of the debate raise a solid argument and there is not enough hard evidence, the source of the disorder

OCD has a well-established biological component similar to other anxiety disorders. According to the National Institute of Health (2010) anxiety produces affective physical reactions in people, suggesting

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental disorder where the affected feel the need to check things often and repeatedly, perform specific routines over and over, or have specific thoughts repeatedly. Sufferers are unable to control either their actions or thoughts when certain tasks are being performed. Common actions include randomly counting things as if it was meaningful, checking to see if doors are locked, and hand washing. Some people may have trouble throwing things away, or getting rid of old trash. These actions occur to such severity that the sufferer's daily life is negatively affected. Sufferers often produce these negative actions for at least an hour a day. Most adults with OCD are able to realize themselves performing

Obsessive compulsion disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder described by irrational thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead you to do repetitive tasks (compulsions) (Obsessive Compulsion Disorder, 2013). When a person has obsessive-compulsive disorder, they may realize that their obsessions aren't accurate, and they may try to overlook them but that only increases their suffering and worry. Eventually, you feel driven to perform compulsive acts to ease your stressful feelings. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is often driven by a reason, cause, or fear for example, a fear of germs. To calm the feeling of this fear, a person may compulsively wash their hands until they're sore and chapped. Despite their efforts, thoughts of obsessive-compulsive behavior keep coming back. This leads to more ritualistic behavior and a brutal cycle of obsessive-compulsive disorder. OCD is the fourth most common mental disorder, and is diagnosed nearly as often as asthma and diabetes (Who We Are, 2012). In the United States, one in 50 adults suffers from OCD. Obsessive compulsive disorder affects children, adolescents, and adults. About one third to one half of adults with OCD report a childhood onset of the disorder, they felt these anxieties but were not diagnosed or felt no need to be diagnosed until the compulsions over whelmed them (Who We Are, 2012). The phrase obsessive compulsive has been used to describe excessively meticulous, perfectionistic, absorbed, or otherwise fixated person. While

     Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has become an increasingly familiar disorder within the world of health and medicine. The recurring obsessions and compulsions associated with the disorder seem quite easy to identify, yet the acknowledgement of OCD in children had

I have always been fascinated with behavioral disorders, especially OCD. I learned about OCD a few years ago when I was reading a medical journal. At first, it seemed like something very odd. The idea that otherwise normal people can do such strange things, and not be able to control themselves was fascinating. I wanted to know more about this topic, which is why I chose to write my paper on it. I thought that by knowing more about the subject, I will be able to better understand how these people’s lives can be literally taken over by their constant worries and anxiety. Also, I think a lot of people exhibit these behaviors and aren’t even aware that they may have a severe problem, and more importantly, that they can be getting help to

You may have once thought you had OCD before because of an obsessions or habit that you pay attention to now and again. An example of this would be wanting to have a very neat or clean house and starting to think that it means you are a “neat freaks”. With this in mind, it would seem fit to diagnose everyone with obsessive-compulsive disorder otherwise known as OCD, yet that is not the case. The main difference with those who are diagnosed with OCD is that these obsessions and compulsions begin to greatly interfere with one’s daily lives while also causing a large amount of distress for the individual (CAMH, 2001).

Method A, with a total of 40 inpatients (32 females (80 %); mean age=31.25 years) suffering from OCD were randomly assigned to a treatment (administration of additional memantine) or a control group (which was the placebo). The treatment had lasted for 12 consecutive weeks, and all patients were treated with selective serotonin inhibitors, or clomipramine. The patients had to complete the Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale four times.

Presently, the most valid explanation appears to be a combination of both biological and psychological factors. Genetic elements contributing to the illness is also highly possible since research studies reports a strong link between OCD and familial patterns. Furthermore, using cognitive behavioral therapy appears to be the best and common treatment, as well as the use of prescribed pharmacological drugs. But perhaps a combination of both treatments can prove most beneficial. While, the controversial treatment of GVC radiation brain surgery might be a new way of treating patients with OCD, it has the potential to be the most effective treatment by eliminating the use of drugs and therapy. Lastly, to determine the severity of this illness, the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) scores sufferers of OCD from either 0-7 (sub-clinical) to 32-40 (extreme), which shows that the condition can be managed and treated. Unfortunately for some, like billionaire Howard Hughes, living with the physical complications of severe enduring obsessive-compulsive disorder can produce severe health consequences that could seriously affect a person’s

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, involves anxious thoughts or rituals one feels and can't control. . For many years, OCD was thought to be rare. The actual number of people with OCD was hidden, because people would hide their problem to avoid embarrassment. Some recent studies show that as many as 3 million Americans ages 18 to 54 may have OCD at any one time. This is about 2.3% of the people in this age group. It strikes men and women in approximately equal numbers and usually first appears in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. One-third of adults with OCD report having experienced their first symptoms as children. The course of the disease is variable. Symptoms may come

Obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD, is characterized as having symptoms of uncontrollable obsessions that lead the individual to experience symptoms of anxiety. The patient then experiences compulsions in attempt to relieve the anxiety. People with OCD experience repeat behaviors or thoughts that interfere with completing basic daily activities and tasks. The disorders symptoms debilitate the patient’s