Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Evidence based research has shown that cognitive-behavioral therapy is the preferred method of psychotherapy. Historically behavioral therapy was first used for the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder. Behavioral therapy concentrated on the exposure to fearful stimuli. Cognitive therapy was then used and focused on responsibilities, over importance of thought, controlling thoughts, and estimation of threats. Both these approaches were found to be very effective and they combined them creating cognitive-behavioral therapy (Stein, 2002). This therapy involves response prevention and exposure to stimuli. Response prevention is when the individual has OCD stays away from compulsive thoughts and practices. An examples of this include the compulsive behavior of washing your hands 7 times before leaving the bathroom; and decreasing the amount of handwashes gradually until the desired results are achieved. Exposure refers to the systematic stimulation that is repetitive and that can last for a long period of time. An example of this is the exposure to dirt and germs for an individual who gets extreme anxiety from the possibility of coming into contact with these substances (Abramowitz, et. al, 2009). This treatment can be done in a group setting, family setting or as an individual (Stein, 2002). Psychotherapy is also very useful for educating those with obsessive compulsive disorder to think differently, how to behave, and proper reaction to anxiety provoking situations that cause the need to act out the obsession with the compulsive

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 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

Did you know that about 3.3 million adults and about 1 million children and adolescents in the United States alone have been diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive disorder(OCD)? This disorder usually starts to occur in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood stages of life. Both men and women are affected equally. Obsessive-Compulsive disorder is a crippling mental disorder where people feel the need to repeatedly check things, perform certain routines, and have certain thoughts. The thoughts, fears, or images are reoccurring and distressing and cannot be controlled.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Related Disorders is a classification located within the DSM-5 Manual. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Other Related Disorders include Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Hoarding Disorder, Trichotillomania or hair-pulling disorder, Excoriation or skin- picking disorder, substance and medication induced OCD, OCD due to another medical condition, and unspecified OCD and related disorders such as body-focused repetitive disorder are just a few of the disorders found within this classification.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a sometimes disabling problem that catches people in endless cycles of redundant thoughts and behaviors. People with OCD have haunting thoughts or fears that continue repeating over and over in their mind that they can't control. The anxiety created by these thoughts lead to an urgent need to perform certain things or routines. People usually repeat these rituals in an attempt to stop the obsessive thoughts and make them go away. The thoughts or fears may go away momentarily but before long the thoughts will come back. In some cases, an obsession can get so bad as to take up hours of a persons life a day. An obsession can build until it will start to interfere with a persons normal activities. Most people with obsessive-compulsive disorder recognize that their disorder is odd and excessive,

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder that causes someone to have unwanted and troubling thoughts and repetitive behaviors (Lack, 2012). People may self-diagnose themselves to be obsessive compulsive. But people with obsessive compulsive disorder need to spend at least 1 hour daily on obsessive thoughts and rituals (Ellyson, 2014). This disorder is broken into two parts. The first part is obsessions, thoughts or images, and the second part is compulsions, the repetitive behaviors caused by the obsessions (Brakoulias, 2015). An example of obsessive compulsive disorder would be someone checking the locked door multiple times to reduce anxiety about forgetting to lock the door. On average 5% of the population has subclinical symptoms which are considered to be symptoms that are not disruptive enough to meet criteria to be diagnosed obsessive compulsive (Lack, 2012). Dropping what you’re doing to go back and check if your curling iron is unplugged is an example of a subclinical symptom. This paper will discuss what obsessive compulsive disorder is and provide a brief history. It will also include current treatments, suggestions on how to treat the disorder, and a summary.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a psychological disorder where patients are plagued with repeated obsessions or compulsions or, most commonly, both. The exact cause of OCD has not been known yet, but it is significantly common among relatives. Although there is no cure for it, detecting it early and treating it properly can help in the majority of cases. OCD affects all aspects of individuals’ lives and sometimes could lead to a sever depression. In addition, A study was conducted regarding the prevalence of OCD has estimated that OCD is the “fourth most common mental illness after phobias, substance abuse, and major depression.” Moreover,

Obsessive compulsive disorder also known as OCD, is an anxiety disorder. People who have this disorder have repetitive thoughts and behaviors that they cannot control. A chemical imbalance of the neurotransmitter serotonin throws off communication in the brain. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (2015), it can also cause impulses that manifest through obsessions, ideas, and images. The next part of this disorder is compulsions. These are the behaviors that people who have this disorder perform in order to get rid of the uncontrollable thoughts and feelings.

A very simple definition of this disorder is “unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings” (Clark, Radomsky). There are many factors rather than just one instance that has to occur for a person to be able to be diagnosed with OCD. It has to repeatedly occur and has to be extreme that it interferes with a person’s daily life. An obsession is where one has a thought, image, or impulse which keeps occurring. The compulsion is the action in which one person does to relieve the obsession. A person will lose control of their mind if they are cannot perform their compulsive act. The Westwood Institute for Anxiety Disorder explains that “OCD is caused by damage to a specific part of the brain called the basal ganglia” (Gorbis). This means not only is there a mental aspect but also a biological aspect of this disorder. Once these researchers found where the primary area for OCD is located, they researched further to define more clearly where it is

Knowing what OCD is the first step in understanding the psychology of the disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a common, chronic and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over” (NIMH). The obsessive part of OCD is intrusive, repetitive thoughts the cause anxiety, and the compulsion part is the need to perform an act or ritual repeatedly. The obsession causes anxiety and the compulsion relieves the anxiety.

obsessive compulsive disorder, often referred to as OCD, is a mental health disorder that may affect people of all gender, age and walks of life. It is a common, chronic and long-lasting mental disorder where the person affected has a series of obsessions and compulsions episodes.

Obsessive – Compulsion disorder is again another type of anxiety disorder characterized by repeated or uncontrollable thoughts and compulsions that seem to be impossible to stop or control. People that have OCD often do things such as washing their hands, checking, counting, and cleaning to avoid the obsessive thought. The causes of OCD are still being researched, but OCD is now being associated with neurobiology, but is no longer being associated with childhood experiences. OCD occupies 2 percent of the United States’ population in a given year. However OCD can be linked with other mental and physical disorders such as: depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD,) and some anxiety disorders.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, a common disorder, refers to the excessive, unreasonable, and intrusive obsessions or compulsions, which cause distress to an individual. Obsessions are intrusive thoughts, persistent ideas, and impulses that invade an individual’s consciousness. On the other hand, compulsions are rigid and repetitive, or “rituals” that an individual must perform in order to prevent anxiety. In fact, this disorder is classified as an anxiety disorder because the obsessions cause great anxiety to the individual, while the compulsions are aimed at reducing the anxiety (National Institute of Mental Health). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder affects about 2.2 million adults in the US, sticking men and women equally, and usually appears in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood (National Institute of Mental Health). One-third of adults develop symptoms as