Download Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ( OCD )

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
( OCD )
Definition
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder:
A psychiatric disorder characterized by
obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions,
such as cleaning, checking, counting, or
hoarding. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD), one of the anxiety disorders, is a
potentially disabling condition that can persist
throughout a person's life.
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Symptoms
Anxiety
A need to escape from thoughts.
Self harm on purpose.
Fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt or
contaminating others.
Fear of causing harm to yourself or others.
Intrusive sexually explicit or violent thoughts and
images.
Excessive focus on religious or moral ideas.
Order and symmetry: the idea that everything must
line up “just right.”
Superstitions; excessive attention to something
considered lucky or unlucky.
Excessive double-checking of things, such as locks,
appliances, and switches.
Diagnosis
• A physician will conduct a physical exam, and
a physiological test on the patient. Also, will
have obsessions they can not control, they
realize the obsessions interfere with their
daily routines.
• The therapist will look for compulsive
behaviors and these obsessions and
compulsions take a lot of time and get in the
way of important activities the person values,
such as working, going to school or spending
time with friends.
Causes
Insufficient levels of serotonin:
• A chemical in the brain that helps regulate moods
and emotions. Brain scans have also shown that
people with OCD often have abnormalities within
the brain, particularly in the orbital cortex (the part
of the brain above the eyes)
Infection:
• A streptococcal infection of the throat is known to
occasionally result in the body confusing healthy
cells with the infection and causing cellular damage.
Depression:
• People with depression sometimes develop OC
symptoms, and those with OCD very often develop
depression. Dealing with both together is very
difficult without clinical intervention and it is
notoriously difficult to undertake an exposure
programmed while the depression is high.
Treatment
• Two main treatments for OCD are
psychotherapy (personal counseling with
a psychotherapist) and medications .
Infection:
• A streptococcal infection of the throat is known to
occasionally result in the body confusing healthy cells
with the infection and causing cellular damage.
Those Affected
• People from all walks of life can get OCD.
It strikes people of all social and ethnic
groups and both males and females.
Symptoms typically begin during
childhood, the teenage years or young
adulthood
Related/Interesting information:
• OCD cost the U.S. $8.4 billion in 1990 in social and economic
losses, nearly 6 percent of the total mental health bill of $148
billion.
• Leonardo DiCaprio (Actor), Howie Mandel (Deal or No Deal
Host), and David Beckham (Proffessional soccer player) suffer
from obsessive compulsive disorder.
• "Obsessed" TV Show on A&E Explores OCD and Other
Anxiety Disorders.
• The main character of the TV show "Monk" suffers from
OCD.
Getting Help
• Locate mental health services in your area.
• Affordable healthcare NIMH clinical trials,
and listings of professionals and organizations.
• Contact a psychologist or research listings of
professionals and organizations.
OCD Video
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn1OYl
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