OCD Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental disorder in which the sufferer has no control over obsessive thoughts and compulsive (repetitive) behavior
People with OCD can get stuck in an endless cycle of repetitive thoughts and actions.
Doing this “ritual” can temporarily stop feelings of anxiety.
However, sufferers will perform the “ritual” again when their obsessive thoughts appear again.
These cycles can take OCD sufferers up to hours, which interferes with their normal daily activities.
People with obsessive-compulsive disorder will usually try to avoid the triggers of their obsessions. Most adult sufferers even realize that the rituals that are performed do not make sense.
It’s just that they don’t know how to stop it. Symptoms can come and go, and get better or worse, over time.
Symptoms
People with obsessive-compulsive disorder can have obsessive and compulsive symptoms or even both.
All of these symptoms can interfere with almost every aspect of life for people with OCD, from work to school to personal relationships.
Obsessive thoughts, urges, or mental images are repeated frequently that cause anxiety.
Symptoms of OCD disorders usually include:
- afraid of germs
- afraid of making mistakes
- fear of being embarrassed or of behaving in a socially unacceptable way
- unwanted taboo or prohibited thoughts include sex, religion, and danger
- aggressive thoughts about self or others
- require things to be symmetrical or in perfect or precise order
- excessive doubtful thoughts and the need to verify over and over again
Meanwhile, compulsion is a repetitive behavior of OCD sufferers because they feel the urge to do it in response to obsessive thoughts.
Symptoms that occur generally include:
- bathing or cleaning or excessive and repeated hand washing
- refusing to shake hands or hold door handles
- Sort and arrange goods in a proper and special way
- checking something over and over again, such as repeatedly checking a locked door
- compulsive counting
- eat in a specific order
- Stuck on words, images or thoughts that are usually disturbing and won’t go away and even bother you when you sleep
- repeat certain words or sentences or prayers
- need to do the task in several times
- collect or hoard items of no apparent value
It’s normal for someone to double-check things to make sure everything’s safe.
However, in contrast to OCD sufferers, they can do it repeatedly. There’s usually a special behavior around this, like:
- unable to control his thoughts or behavior, even if those thoughts or behavior are recognized as excessive
- spend at least 1 hour a day on this thought or behavior
- is not pleased during the behavior or ritual, but may feel momentary relief from the disturbing thoughts of the mind
- experiencing significant problems in daily life because of these thoughts or behaviors
Some people with OCD also experience motor and vocal tic disturbances.
Motor tics are sudden, brief, and repetitive movements such as eye blinking, facial grimacing, shoulder rising, and head or shoulder jerking.
Vocal tics are repetitive sounds such as clearing the throat or sniffing.
Reason
The cause of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is not known with certainty.
However, some of the following risk factors are known to be associated:
-
Genetic
OCD risk factors will increase if the first circle of relatives, such as parents, siblings, or children have this disorder.
The risk is even higher when OCD is present as a child or teenager.
-
Brain Structure and Function
OCD patients show differences in structure in the frontal cortex (the part of the brain behind the forehead) which is responsible for thinking, planning, deciding, controlling emotions and the body, understanding oneself, and empathizing.
There are also differences in the subcortical structure of the brain on examination with brain imaging tools.
However, the relationship between OCD symptoms and abnormalities in certain parts of the brain is still being investigated.
-
Environment
Those who experienced a history of physical, psychological, or sexual violence as children or other violent trauma, are at greater risk of experiencing OCD.
-
Infection
In some cases, a child can also develop OCD after having a streptococcal infection.
Sindrom ini disebut Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS).
Risk Factors
Factors that can increase the risk of obsessive-compulsive disorder include:
-
Family History
Having a parent or other family member with OCD can also increase your risk of experiencing the same disorder.
-
Stressful Life Events
Experiencing a traumatic event including stress also increases the risk of developing OCD.
These bad experiences can trigger the disturbing thoughts and feelings, as well as the emotional distress that characterizes OCD.
-
Other Mental Health Disorders
Obsessive-compulsive disorder may also be related to other mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse or tic disorders.
Diagnosis
The doctor will determine the diagnosis of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) from examining the symptoms displayed by the sufferer. Apart from that, doctors can also determine it through in-depth conversations to find out the patient’s OCD behavior patterns.
The diagnosis of OCD mental disorders is determined in the following ways.
- Psychological evaluation. The doctor will determine the diagnosis of OCD from examining the symptoms that the sufferer shows. Doctors can also determine it through in-depth conversations to find out the patient’s OCD behavior patterns.
- Diagnostic criteria for OCD. Your doctor may use the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association.
- Physical examination.
- In this disorder, laboratory tests are not needed to diagnose OCD.
Treatment
Obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment includes two therapies, namely drugs, psychotherapy or it could be a combination of the two.
Some of the sufferers will still experience symptoms even though they are already on treatment.
The drugs used are serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
The use of this drug must be monitored by a doctor because it is a class of antidepressants.
Psychotherapy is an effective therapy for people with OCD, both adults and children.
One suitable therapy for OCD sufferers is cognitive behavior therapy ( CBT).
Studies show a reduction in compulsive symptoms in OCD sufferers with exposure and response prevention therapy (a type of CBT), even in OCD sufferers who do not respond to SRI drugs.
Related Drugs
The choice of drugs used for OCD includes serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
- Clomipramine (Anafranil) for adults and children 10 years and older
- Fluoxetine (Prozac) for adults and children 7 years and older
- Fluvoxamine for adults and children 8 years and over
- Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) is for adults only
- Sertraline (Zoloft) for adults and children 6 years and older
All of these drugs must be under the supervision of a doctor, and cannot be consumed freely. OCD patients are handled by psychiatric specialists.
Prevention
OCD disease cannot be prevented. Early diagnosis and appropriate therapy can reduce the time patients spend with the disease and can improve the quality of life for people with OCD.
Complications
Untreated complications from obsessive-compulsive disorder can include:
- excessive time spent engaging in ritualistic behavior
- health problems, such as contact dermatitis due to frequent hand washing
- difficulty attending work, school or social activities
- problematic relationship
- poor quality of life overall
- suicidal thoughts and behavior
When to See a Doctor?
Immediately to the doctor if you get the following symptoms:
- when the behavior or symptoms are interfering with the quality of daily life
- there are health problems that arise
- have suicidal thoughts or attempts