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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Cesar Antonio Soto
Dr. Justin E. Tomasino Ph.D.
Psychology
May 9th, 2011
The human brain is a very powerful piece of structure; it is truly limitless when speaking
about its potential. With a functional organ comes a dysfunctional possibility. Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder, (OCD), for instance, is nervousness in the mind. OCD is an anxiety
disorder caused by repetitive intrusive thoughts and behaviors. It is a mental disorder marked by
the involvement of a devotion to an idea or routine. Essentially, it is a false core belief which is
believing that there is something wrong, causing the mind to overpower the body in order to
better itself. The act, the compulsion, is performed in order to reduce the amount of anxiety the
host experiences in his thoughts, the obsession. Obsessive Compulsive Disorders can be
anything from excessively washing your hands, not stepping on cracks, and even excessively
having your possessions clean such as your house, office, car, etc. These compulsions can be
treated to an extent. Through observations, it is simple to conclude that everyone has a form of
an obsession, very much like OCD, that can benefit bright and new concepts throughout the
world.
According to the history books, the anxiety disorder of OCD is said to originate in
Europe during the 14th and 16th century. During that time, it was believed that people who
experienced and had obsessive thoughts, specifically sexual, were possessed by the Devil.
Exorcism was the treatment used for people of this manner to “cure” them. Nevertheless, in the
early 1910s, Austrian born neurologist Sigmund Freud, who was the founder of psychoanalysis,
attributed obsessive- compulsive behavior to unconscious conflicts that manifest as symptoms.
He believed that in early childhood life, humans have and attain a “touching phobia”.
Contributing to this disorder, Freud explains throughout his work, that the human mind has
strong desires. With these desires occur an “external prohibition” against the desires. However,
the desire is never diminished it simply forces itself to the unconscious mind. Essentially, the
human mind is capable of reaching immense heights due to its desires and it is almost impossible
to avoid such feature.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is the fourth most common mental disorder. Statistics
show that “one in 50 adults” in the United States have OCD. People with OCD frequently seek
the pleasure or relief of performing actions that are related to the anxiety. Additionally, they
may recognize the thoughts and behaviors to be irrational; even so, it can be difficult for people
to resist them and break free. In general, studies show that the average person with Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder will develop this condition before the age of 25. Daily activities are
altered. Behavior within a person with OCD includes: tardiness, perfectionism, procrastination,
indecision, discouragement and family problems. Moreover, around 80% of all OCD sufferers
are diagnosed with depression. Therefore, not only does man feel isolated and helpless, but he
can convince himself that he is not good enough for the world and withdraw from others and life
itself.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder deals with two sources: Obsessions, thoughts, and
compulsions, behaviors. Melinda Smith and Ellen Jaffe- Gill elaborate on the differences and
the relationship that obsessions and compulsions have while having OCD. They state that:
Obsessions are involuntary, seemingly uncontrollable thoughts, images, or impulses that
occur over and over again in your mind. You don’t want to have these ideas – in fact,
you know that they don’t make any sense. But you can’t stop them. Unfortunately, these
obsessive thoughts are usually disturbing and distracting. Compulsions are behaviors or
rituals that you feel driven to act out again and again. Usually, compulsions are
performed in an attempt to make obsessions go away. For example, if you’re afraid of
contamination, you might develop elaborate cleaning rituals. However, the relief never
lasts. In fact, the obsessive thoughts usually come back stronger. And the compulsive
behaviors often end up causing anxiety themselves as they become more demanding and
time-consuming.
Continuing, an article online describes the differences between obsessions and
compulsions.
Obsessions are ideas, images and impulses that run through the person's mind over and
over again. A person with OCD doesn't want to have these thoughts and finds them
disturbing, but he or she can't control them. Sometimes these thoughts come just once in
a while and are only mildly annoying. Other times, a person who has OCD will have
obsessive thoughts all the time. Obsessive thoughts make people who have OCD feel
nervous and afraid. They try to get rid of these feelings by performing certain behaviors
according to "rules" that they make up for themselves. These behaviors are called
compulsions. (Compulsive behaviors are sometimes also called rituals.) For example, a
person who has OCD may have obsessive thoughts about germs. Because of these
thoughts, the person may wash his or her hands repeatedly. Performing these behaviors
usually only makes the nervous feelings go away for a short time. When the fear and
nervousness return, the person who has OCD repeats the routine all over again.
Compulsions are the effect of the obsessions. The host first experiences the intrusive
thoughts, which are the obsessions. Second, man receives behaviors or actions that are a result
from the thoughts. As a result, an anxiety disorder is in place of the mind. Moreover,
throughout the span of a long- term period of time, the host has realized that the obsessions or
compulsions are excessive or unreasonable. At this specific point in time with OCD, the patient
must attain medical or psychological attention for treatment.
The causes of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, to this day, are still unknown. OCD’s
causes aren’t fully understood, however, psychological doctors believe that there are three main
factors to the cause of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The theories and possibilities of the
causes of OCD are: biological, environment and insufficient serotonin. Scientists and doctors
believe that OCD may be a result of changes in the human body. In addition, it may have a
genetic component. Yet, to this day in history, these specific genes have not been identified nor
clarified. When it comes to environment, practitioners think, over time and throughout life,
human beings have obtained OCD through every day activities. Behavior- related habits learned
and attained in life have a huge cause in OCD. Serotonin is a chemical messenger in the human
brain. With low levels of this chemical, psychologists believe that this has a high cause of OCD.
Several factors lead to the possession of OCD. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder has
symptoms that include the following: order and symmetry with the idea that everything must line
up “just right”, superstitions, double- checking of things, counting, tapping, repeating certain
words to reduce anxiety, ordering, evening out things, and accumulating “junk”. Symptoms are
both thoughts and behaviors; they are repetitive thoughts to reduce any form of anxiety. In order
to identify OCD in man, man must have mental obsessions that lead to intrusive compulsions in
everyday activities. In times of stress, symptoms can get worse as the symptoms wax and wane
over time.
There are many different ways to treat OCD. The general idea of the treatment is to resist
the urge of the patient to perform the mental or physical act. This treatment manages the person
to expose the underlying anxiety. Essentially, a neutralization of the thought is produced by the
action. Furthermore, effective treatment for OCD varies from therapy to self help to medication.
With the variety and diverse of treatments, there is only one treatment that has high research
supporting its effectiveness. Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy works extremely well with the
diagnosis of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
The following statements are from mayoclinic.com, a website for diseases, and for
medical attention. Here, they describe the Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy treatments and its
significance.
A type of therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be effective. Cognitive
behavioral therapy involves retraining your thought patterns and routines so that
compulsive behaviors are no longer necessary. One CBT approach in particular is called
exposure and response prevention. This therapy involves gradually exposing you to a
feared object or obsession, such as dirt, and teaching you healthy ways to cope with your
anxiety. Learning the techniques and new thought patterns takes effort and practice. But
you may enjoy a better quality of life once you learn to manage your obsessions and
compulsions. Therapy may take place in individual, family or group sessions.
Furthermore, Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy has two key components; as stated by
Melinda Smith and Ellen Jaffe-Gill.
Exposure and response prevention involves repeated exposure to the source of your
obsession. Then you are asked to refrain from the compulsive behavior you’d usually
perform to reduce your anxiety. For example, if you are a compulsive hand washer, you
might be asked to touch the door handle in a public restroom and then be prevented from
washing up. As you sit with the anxiety, the urge to wash your hands will gradually
begin to go away on its own. In this way, you learn that you don’t need the ritual to get
rid of your anxiety – that you have some control over your obsessive thoughts and
compulsive behaviors. Studies show that exposure and response prevention can actually
“retrain” the brain, permanently reducing the occurrence of obsessive-compulsive
disorder symptoms. This type of OCD therapy can even extinguish compulsive
behaviors entirely. The cognitive therapy component for obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD) focuses on the catastrophic thoughts and exaggerated sense of responsibility you
feel. A big part for OCD is teaching you healthy and effective ways of responding to
obsessive thoughts, without resorting to compulsive behavior.
Treatment for OCD can be very long to cure as well as difficult. As referred, Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy can be very effective; additionally so can medication such as:
Clomipramine, Fluvoxamine, Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, and Sertraline. These anti-depressant
chemicals have been cleared and approved by the Food and Drug Administration, (FDA), to treat
OCD. Patients may be lacking levels of serotonin. Anti-depressants have the ability to increase
these decreased levels of serotonin, which is highly probable when man has OCD.
With the use of medication and psychological treatment, there are many risks and factors
that the patient can undergo. The dilemmas for medication are limitless. There are controversies
for choosing a medication, continuing the medication and side effects of the medication. The
general goal for deciding on a medication is for the patient to pick the medication or treatment
that will ultimately affect the signs and symptoms of OCD while maintaining the lowest possible
dosage. After the start of medication, it can take weeks and sometimes months for the patient to
notice an improvement in the symptoms displayed throughout every day routines. Factors for
side effects are continuous and may include the following: upset stomach, sleep disturbance,
sweating, and reduced interest in sexual activity. Ultimately, the patient is responsible for his
condition before, during, and after medication is taken to properly and legally treat his Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety illness marked by repetitive intrusive
thoughts and behaviors that affect daily lives throughout people around the world. Michael
Maher Ph.D. has done a case sample on a person whose name and personal information has been
kept private. This case study is from his website Columbia-ocd.org. This given sample
illustrates the generic symptoms, side effects and medication that man can undertake.
A 35 year old male, complained of elaborate cleaning and washing rituals. His particular
concerns were with bodily waste or secretions (especially urine, feces, saliva, and
semen). His specific feared consequences were about contracting HIV disease and/or
spreading the HIV virus to others. His rituals included elaborate handwashing routines,
prolonged and stereotyped showers, and lengthy wiping and cleaning rituals after using
the toilet. The possibility that he might contract HIV disease and/or that he might spread
it to others dominated his waking hours, and he only really felt safe when he was at home
washing. On initial evaluation, Dan was told about the two proven treatments for OCD:
pharmacotherapy with a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) and cognitive-behavioral
therapy consisting of exposure and ritual prevention (EX/RP). When Dan learned that
EX/RP treatment would require exposure to feared contaminants, he chose SRI treatment
instead. After about 6 weeks on fluoxetine 60 mg per day, Dan reported that he was much
less bothered by his obsessions, and he was more able to delay or stop his rituals. On the
other hand, he continued to obsess about 3 hours per day about contaminants and to wash
excessively. Thus, he was referred to twice-weekly EX/RP with an experienced therapist.
Remaining on the SRI, Dan participated in 17 EX/RP sessions. With the therapist's expert
guidance, he confronted feared contaminants in session and at home without ritualizing.
He started with situations that he found moderately distressing (e.g., touching the floor in
the therapists office), progressed to situations that he found more distressing (e.g.,
touching the floor in public bathrooms), and finished with situations that were highly
distressing (e.g., imagining contracting HIV disease and giving it to his whole family).
Although the treatment triggered a lot of anxiety, he persisted, and he became less fearful
over time as he repeatedly confronted his fears without ritualizing. By the end, his OCD
symptoms were minimal, his work and his social functioning had improved, and he felt
optimistic about his future.
It is clearly understood the harsh reality of having OCD. However, there are medications
out there in the medical and psychological fields. Every year, a large number of people with
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder do not get diagnosed nor treatment at all. This can and is very
fatal to the human mind and patient with the numerous amounts of symptoms experienced every
day.
Today, in society and culture, three celebrities and well- known pop idols have said to
have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder- like symptoms. David Beckham, an English footballer for
Milan, has outspoken regarding his struggles with OCD. He has spoke to the media saying that
he must count all his clothing and express his magazines in a straight line. Unfortunately, he has
not been diagnosed nor been treated for it. American filmmaker and aviator, Howard Hughes,
has been commented on by his companions. They declare that Mr. Hughes has a great fear for
germs and minor flaws in clothing. Mr. Marc Summers, who is an American game show host,
has written a novel about his life and how it has been affected by OCD. His novel, Everything in
Its Place: My Trials and Triumphs with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder depicts his descriptive
autobiography with OCD.
Summary
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety illness marked by repetitive intrusive
thoughts and behaviors that affect daily lives throughout people around the world. Psychologists
believe that the three main causes of OCD are: biological, environment and insufficient serotonin
levels. Symptoms of OCD include the following: order and symmetry with the idea that
everything must line up “just right”, superstitions, double- checking of things, counting, tapping,
repeating certain words to reduce anxiety, ordering, evening out things, and accumulating
“junk”. In order to treat OCD, the patient must partake in one, or both, of two things: take
Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy or take medication like Clomipramine, Fluvoxamine, Fluoxetine,
Paroxetine, and Sertraline. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can be lifelong threatening if not
diagnosed or treated.
Personal Thoughts
When it comes to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, I believe everyone has a role to fill in
life and the world. Everything happens for a reason. If life has been made for someone to have
and possess OCD, then they should take advantage of that and use that to the best of their ability.
For example, if someone is obsessed with cleaning and having everything clean, then they should
open up their own business for cleaning houses or something along those lines. If someone has
to repeatedly check if the doors are locked or secured, then they should work and possibly
manage a service like ADT; keeping people safe would be his/ her passion. If depression is a
part of the OCD, then the patient should be treated and put on medication; however, he or she
should take advantage of the skill he/ she possess to the extreme. I personally have OCD like
symptoms and I take advantage of every possible ability that I can. My room must be all about
me, my hands must be washed before eating dinner, my homework must be saved onto my
laptop a certain way; it is neither extreme nor harmful to me. Nevertheless, I like have a little bit
of OCD because it makes me who I am. I like having the ability to do what I do and how I do
that. There is no one on this planet that should judge me for my happiness so why should society
to so towards patients with OCD and depression? If the patient wants to be cured, it’s because of
his/ her choice. They should have the right to do what they want to do. After all, happiness is a
milestone a lot of us try to reach throughout life.
Works Cited
[Hastings, C. Devin]. “Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder: Can Hypnosis help?” Unknown.
April 30th 2011. < http://www.mindbodyhypnosis.com/OCD%20article.htm>
[Maher, Michael Ph.D.]. “Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Research Clinic”. Unknown.
May 7th 2011. < http://www.columbia-ocd.org/>
[Smith, Melinda M.A., and Jaffe-Gill, Ellen M.A.]. “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
(OCD)”. Unknown. April 21st 2011.
<http://www.helpguide.org/mental/obsessive_compulsive_disorder_ocd.htm>
[Unknown]. “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD”. Unknown. March 26th 2011.
<http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/index.shtml>
[Unknown]. “Anxiety & Panic Disorders Guide”. Unknown. May 1st 2011.
<http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/obsessive-compulsive-disorder>
[Unknown]. “Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)”. Unknown. April 29th 2011.
< http://health.yahoo.net/channel/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd.html>
[Unknown], “Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; What is it? And how to treat it?”.
Unknown. May 5th.
<<http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/mentalhealth/anxiety/133.html>