Obsessive-compulsive disorder is the fourth most prevalent psychiatric disorder in the
United States. OCD is characterized by unreasonable thoughts and fears that lead people who suffer from the disease to do repetitive behaviors. People who suffer the disease may or may not realize that their personal obsessions aren’t reasonable, and may try to ignore them or stop them.
Unfortunately, this only leads to an increase in distress and anxiety. OCD often usually include both obsessions and compulsions. However, it is possible for a person to have obsessive or compulsive symptoms. About one-third of people with obsessive-compulsive disorder also suffer from a disorder that includes sudden, brief, intermittent movements or sounds. Also, OCD
obsessions
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However, these compulsions only offer a temporary relief from anxiety. Some examples of compulsions are:
Washing and cleaning, orderliness, following a strict routine, etc. Originally, OCD was thought to be a rare disorder, however, studies have revealed approximately one percent to three percent suffer from the disease worldwide, making it one of the more common and serious mental conditions. Studies conducted in the field of OCD have suggested that there is an imbalance of neurotransmitters may be what is contributing to anxiety disorders. The neurotransmitters targeted in anxiety disorders are GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid, serotonin, dopamine, and epinephrine. Serotonin appears to be important as it deals with the feeling of well-being, and deficiencies are highly related to anxiety and depression. Control, which is a stress hormone, also plays a role in this. OCD is strongly prevalent to a family history with the disorder. Close relatives of people with OCD are, staggering, nine times more likely to develop the disorder. Researchers have made progress in identifying specific gene factors that could contribute to an inherit risk of the disorder. Genes that regulate specific
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A majority of the male subjects tested indicated a early onset of symptoms and chronic course of the disorder, greater social impairment, more sexual and aggressive symptoms, and substance use disorder. Female patients displayed symptoms of cleaning/contamination and eating and impure-control disorders. Studies have also shown the an earlier onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder among males, compared to females. An
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approximate amount of one third of adults’ refer symptom onset in their childhood; among children, two thirds of the studies were boys. OCD cases with an early onset is very severe, sharing a similarity to schizophrenia. Gender maybe a relevant fact to determine OCD. Although the reasons why OCD differs from genders is not entirely clear, many researchers have speculated that it results from both psychological influences and biological. Among the biological factors, sex linked genetic features and hormonal differences. In the psychological aspect, social roles that center around gender may affect the content of obsessions and compulsions. Age appears to be a more genetic characteristic that is influenced by a family history of OCD, the occurrence of aggressive and sexual symptoms may influence
Because she has OCD, a general risk factor is experiencing intense anxiety or developing an anxiety disorder. She mentioned that OCD has already taken much of her time. Her grades might be at risk. She could easily find it difficult to concentrate when she is obsessing an urge. She has already developed muscle tension. Her fingers are fidgeting, and she cannot stop shaking her legs.
‘A Glimpse Inside the OCD Mind’ by Julie Zack Yaste and the ‘OCD’ webpage on Wikipedia are articles that share how OCD affects the life of those experiencing it. Article 1, ‘OCD’ (Wikipedia) shares scientific facts about OCD and Article 2 shares the story of the author and how having OCD has affected her life. I have chosen to look at the use of informative techniques in both articles and to evaluate the effectiveness of those techniques. Now I am going to examine the key ideas in Article 1.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder involves a chemical imbalance in the brain. This chemical imbalance is thought to be the main reason for obsessions and compulsions, although there may be other factors as well. Nearly one in every fifty people suffers from symptoms of OCD ("Escape"), and approximately 5 million Americans are affected by
Since the beginnings of psychology the debate of nature verses nurture has been going on. Certain psychologists take the position of the nature perspective. They argue that people are born with predispositions towards certain personalities, traits and other characteristics that help shape them into the people that they become later in life. Meanwhile multiple other psychologists argue the nurture perspective. They believe that people are born as a blank slate and their experiences over the course of life help shape their personalities, traits, and other characteristics. One topic that can be argued from both perspectives is obsessive-compulsive disorder. People who develop Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder are influenced by their inherited
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.
According to Fowler (1999), a key characteristic is physical impulsivity; children with his are likely to be greater risk for other psychiatric 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, p.8, para. 3) and almost 1 in 100 children all over the globe (Kadaba, 2002). It affects people of all races, genders and socioeconomic backgrounds (Parks, 2011, p. 8, para. 2) but no one has found the cause of this disorder. Since its discovery and modern conceptualization, there has been an ongoing debate about whether OCD is caused by environmental factors or if it is inherited through genetics. Although there is valid
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.
In the introduction, the author states that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects 1-3% of the general population, when in fact it affects 2.3% of the general population.
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
OCD, the acronym for obsessive-compulsive disorder, affects 1% - 3% of children in the United States (p.74). Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a clinical disorder categorized as an anxiety disorder, in which one is consumed by both unregulated obsessive thoughts and compulsions thus affecting one’s daily life activities (p.74). As described in the article, obsessions are “ recurring thoughts, impulses or images that exceed typical worries about real-life problems”; while as compulsions are “repetitive behavior or thoughts that an individual feels compelled to execute in response to an obsession.” This journal article discusses the symptoms and etiology of pediatric OCD before presenting the studies on the evidence-based treatment
Clear indicators that the Client meets criteria for OCD – 300.3 (F42.2) were also found using the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). A.V. described the presence of “repetitive behaviours that she feels have driven her to perform according to rules that must be applied rigidly” and “the behaviours are aimed at preventing or reducing anxiety or distress”; “however , these behaviours were not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent, or are clearly excessive”. The main repetitive behaviours identified in the YBOCS were related to routines undertaken at home: checking, ordering, and wiping the kitchen bench.
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
OCD is a psychological disorder that affects a wide variety of people; OCD affects approximately two to three percent of the general population. (Ambramowitz, Taylor, and McKay 2009). Ambramowitz and others also state that with this percent, OCD affects about twice as many people as schizophrenia. With this many people affected, the question of what the most effective way of treating the condition needs to be asked.
The excess of worry and fear is only heightened due to the fact that physical ailments are normally present. If a person with this disorder is concerned over a health related matter, the unexplained physical conditions that are occurring only reinforce the beliefs and worry that is taking place inside their head.