Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a mental illness that until 2013 was categorized as an anxiety disorder. However, in the DSM-5 the disorder was removed from the anxiety disorder category and placed into its own category of disorders called Obsessive Compulsive Disorders. OC disorders are often about control, controlling what you can, no matter how odd or small it may seem. The chapter of the DSM contains the following disorders which have certain specifiers when making a diagnosis:
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Trichotillomania
- Excoriation Disorder
- Body Dysmorphic Disorder
- Hoarding Disorder
OCD is the most common of the disorders, and also one of the more famous mental illnesses. For a person to be diagnosed with OCD there must be two things present, obsessions and compulsions. These symptoms must cause significant distress in one’s life.
An obsession is an unpleasant, unwanted and uncomfortable thought that will not go away. They repeat in a person’s head, get stuck and do not go away. It is more than just trying to distract yourself or think about something else, it is often continuous. These can be thoughts like:
- Your hands are dirty
- There are germs on that
- You may die if you _________
- Irrational and excessive fears of germs and dirt
- Need for things to be a certain way or control
A compulsion is an action designed to eliminate an obsession. These often appear as routines or rituals designed to eliminate the obsessive thoughts. These actions will often temporarily eliminate the obsessive thoughts, however, the thoughts are often likely to appear. For people with OCD the thoughts will often come back immediately after a compulsion is completed, leading to another compulsive action and forming habits. Here are some examples of compulsions:
- Excessive hand washing
- Not stepping on cracks
- Repeatedly checking on something
- Intense cleaning
- Flipping light switches on and off multiple times before entering a room
- Checking to see if the stove is turned off
- Extreme organization or arranging or things needing to be in specific places
Inability to perform a compulsion will often lead to significant distress and anxiety. People will often have serious reactions that appear as “meltdowns” if unable to perform compulsions. This can cause significant distress and discomfort.
Frequently, people with OC disorders will also experience significant anxiety and stress related to their disorder. Many people will experience symptoms of OCD, needing things to be a certain way, cleaning, intrusive obsessive thoughts, and clinging to routines and rituals. However, this does not necessarily mean that you have OCD. OCD is very intense and many people feel completely controlled by the illness and symptoms.
While females experience slightly higher rates of OCD, the diagnostic rate in the US is roughly 1.5% of the population.
Causes of OC Disorders
There are often multiple influences on the development of an OC disorder, but here are several of the causes:
- Genetic predisposition (family history of OC, anxiety, or depressive disorders)
- Experiencing trauma or excessive stress
- Learned behaviors and conditioning
- Neurological imbalances or issues
- Traumatic Brain Injury
Treatments of OC disorders
Each disorder will have specific treatment methods however, here is a list of common treatments for OC disorders:
- Talk therapy/counseling
- Cognitive Behavioral Counseling (Changing thoughts to change your actions)
- Behavioral modifications
- Exposure therapy (exposing yourself to the threatening or fearful stimulus)
- Visualization and imagery training
- Medication (Often SSRI anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medications)
- Relaxation training (meditation, yoga, etc.)
Prognosis for OC disorders
Many people who have OC disorders go on to lead very normal lives. However, severe cases of OCD will often debilitate people and completely interfere with everyday life functioning. People who seek treatment, particularly a multi-faceted approach, can see significant improvement in symptoms. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms related to an OC disorder seeking treatment immediately is best practice, as the longer the symptoms are present, the more difficult they are to improve.