Disorder of the DayCategory: Anxiety Disorders

Source: DSM-IV TR

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)• Characterized by

intrusive thoughts that produce anxiety, and by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety

• Combination of thoughts and behaviors

• Compulsions = tasks or “rituals”

Obsessions vs Compulsions

• Obsessions are:• Recurrent and persistent thoughts

• Impulses• Images that are intrusive and inappropriate

• Compulsions are:• Repetitive behavior • Mental acts• Behaviors that prevent or reduce distress

• Behaviors or acts are not connected in a realistic way with what they are supposed to neutralize

Symptoms

• Repetitive hand washing

• Extensive hoarding • Preoccupation with

sexual or aggressive impulses

• Aversion to odd numbers

• Nervous habits (i.e. opening a door and closing it a certain number of times before entering a room)

• Symptoms are often alienating, and often cause sever emotional and economic loss

Prevalence

• OCD is the fourth-most common mental disorder

• In the US 1 in 50 has OCD

• Equal in both genders

• Usually begins in late teens for males and early twenties for females

• 3% of college graduates develop OCD while only 2% without a college degree

Causes of OCD

• Both psychological and biological factors play a role• Abnormalities with the brains production of serotonin

Treatment

• Therapy and medication

• “exposure and ritual prevention”

• SSRIs• Some extreme

cases rely on “psychosurgery”