Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental disorder where the sufferer experiences obsessive and intrusive thoughts, leading to compulsions that the person carries out to relieve the distressing thoughts. These compulsions can be physical or mental, and can be visible to others or not visible to others. It is not uncommon to worry about little things, such as if you turned the iron off or locked the door. However, people with obsessive-compulsive disorder experience these worries at a more severe level and causes anxiety and distress to the sufferer. People suffering from OCD may realise that their feelings are irrational but the realisation is not enough to suppress or eliminate the intrusive thoughts. The obsessive thoughts that a person has can be specific to a certain aspect of life, such as relationships or illness.
According to Rethink Mental Illness, 1.2% of people in the UK are affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder, and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America estimates that 3.5% of people in United States are affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is no more likely for men or women to be diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America also claims that the average age for obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms to arise are at 19, with 25% of cases occurring before the age of 14.
​
Symptoms
​
The symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder can be very specific to the form of OCD the person has which determines their obsessive thoughts and compulsions. However, obsessive-compulsive disorder can have common and shared symptoms. The commons symptoms are the following:
​
- Intrusive thoughts: Having repeated and distressing
thoughts 'invading' your mind.
​
- Anxiety: Feeling symptoms of anxiety is response to the
distressing thoughts you have.
​
- Low mood: Feeling negative emotions, such as disgust, guilt or
depression, in relation to your thoughts.
​
- Excessive double-checking: Constantly double-checking you
have done certain things or certain things are in the right place.
​
- Excessive arranging: Constantly feeling the need to arrange and
order things a certain way.
​
- Restlessness: An inability to stay still or relax.
​
- Avoidance: Avoiding situations or people because of obsessive
thoughts.
​
Types of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
​
Contamination-Obsessive Compulsive Disorder:
Having obsessive and distressing thoughts about getting sick, leading for sufferers to suffer extreme anxiety from everyday situations that could contaminate them.
Existential Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:
Having obsessive and distressing thoughts about philosophical aspects of life. Sufferers will ask themselves philosophical questions that they need to solve.
Harm Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:
Having obsessive and distressing thoughts about causing harm
to others.
Hoarding Disorder:
Extreme difficulty parting with possessions, causing distress and anxiety with the thought of losing the possession.
Metaphysical Contamination Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:
Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition:
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):
Having obsessive and distressing thoughts that cause compulsive behaviours or actions to deal with these thoughts.
Paedophilia Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:
Having obsessive and distressing sexual thoughts about children, leading to sufferers questioning their morality and avoiding situations involving children. This is different from paedophilia as paedophiles take pleasure from their thoughts while people with paedophilia obsessive-compulsive disorder
feel distress.
Perinatal Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:
Pure Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (POCD):
Having obsessive and distressing thoughts that cause compulsive behaviour or actions to deal with these thoughts. Unlike OCD, these actions are not visible to others.
Relationship Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:
Religious Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:
Responsibility Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:
Having obsessive and distressing thoughts about their responsibility. Sufferers are anxious about their actions and feel responsible for more than they are.
Sexual Orientation Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:
When people have obsessive and distressing thoughts about their
sexuality and constantly question their sexuality, leading to stress,
confusion and anxiety.
Substance/Medication-Induced Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorder:
Suicidal Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:
Having obsessive and distressing thoughts about killing yourself, to the point where sufferers don’t feel safe alone as they will act upon these thoughts.
​
Treatment
​
Treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder often involves therapy, and depending on the severity medication may be advised. A common therapy that is used is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy may also be used. If medication is advised, medication such as antidepressants or SSRIs may be used.
