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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Research Paper

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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 …show more content…

Treatment involves counselling, the most common form being cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and in some instances the use of medication, typically certain serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). CBT for sufferers of OCD involves growing exposure to the reasons the problems the sufferer faces while not allowing the repetitive behavior to occur. While the drug clomipramine appears to work as well as an SSRI, it has other, harsher side-effects. Atypical antipsychotics may be useful when used in addition to an SSRI in treatment-resistant cases, but are also associated with a greater risk of side-effects. Without treatment, the condition often lasts …show more content…

Some people use compulsions to avoid situations that may trigger their obsessions. Although some people do certain things over and over again, they do not necessarily perform these actions compulsively. For example, bedtime routines, learning a new skill, and religious practices are not compulsions. Whether or not behaviors are compulsions or mere habit depends on the context in which the behaviors are performed. For example, arranging and ordering DVDs for eight hours a day would be expected of one who works in a video store, but would seem abnormal in other situations. In other words, habits tend to bring efficiency to one's life, while compulsions tend to disrupt

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