OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)

What Is OCD?

OCD is an anxiety disorder in which people have unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations, or behaviors that make them feel driven to do something.

CAUSES OF OCD?

A circuit in the brain regulates primitive aspects of our behavior. This includes aggression, sexuality, and bodily excretions.

When this circuit is activated, these impulses are brought to our attention and causes us to perform a particular behavior that addresses the impulse.

WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF OCD?

• Fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt or contaminating others.
• Fear of causing harm to yourself or others.
• Fear of losing or not having things you might need.
• Th idea that everything must line up just right.
• Excessive double checking of things.

WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF OCD (CONT.)

• Counting, tapping, or repeating certain words.
• Spending a lot of time cleaning or washing.
• Accumulating junk.

TYPES OF OCD

• Washers- afraid of contamination
• Checkers- repeatedly check things
• Counters and Arrangers- obsessed with order and symmetry
• Hoarders- feel something bad will happen if they throw anything away.

STATISTICS ON OCD

• 1/5 adults in the US have OCD
• 1/3 of adults with OCD develop their disorder in their childhood
• 3.3 million people in the US have OCD
• The presence of aggression and defiancey is the main indicator

TREATMENT FOR OCD

• Going to a properly trained therapist
• Brain surgery
• Medicines: Luvox, Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro, etc.
• Cognitive behavior therapy

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• http://www.ocfoundation.org/MedSummary.
• http://www.ocfoundation.org/ treatment.aspx
• http://understanding_ocd.tripod.com/ocd_facts_statistics.html
• http://www.healthcenthral.com/anxiety/c/22705/34730/ocd-un
• http://www.helpguide.org/mental/obsessive_compulsive_disord