OCD: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common mental disorder which causes individuals to experience frequent and intrusive thoughts as well as uncontrollable behaviors. As it is chronic in nature, recovery from this condition requires persistent effort throughout life. The cause of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is unknown. Factors such as genetics, brain biology and chemistry, and your environment may play a role. In our behavioral health blog, we have 4 tips for positive change – Everyday Practices to Help Reduce OCD: 4 Tips for Positive Change.
Obsessive-compulsive Disorder Symptoms
People with OCD may have symptoms of obsessions, compulsions, or both:
Obsessions are intrusive, irrational thoughts or impulses that repeatedly occur. People with these disorders know these thoughts are irrational but are afraid that somehow they might be true. These thoughts and impulses are upsetting, and people may try to ignore or suppress them.
Compulsions are repetitive acts that temporarily relieve the stress brought on by an obsession. People with these disorders know that these rituals don’t make sense but feel they must perform them to relieve the anxiety and, in some cases, to prevent something bad from happening. Like obsessions, people may try not to perform compulsive acts but feel forced to do so to relieve anxiety.
Examples of obsessions include:
- Thoughts about harming or having harmed someone
- Doubts about having done something right, like turning off the stove or locking a door
- Unpleasant sexual images
- Fears of saying or shouting inappropriate things in public
Examples of compulsions include:
- Hand washing due to a fear of germs
- Counting and recounting money because a person is can’t be sure they added correctly
- Checking to see if a door is locked or the stove is off
- “Mental checking” that goes with intrusive thoughts is also a form of compulsion
Obsessive-compulsive Disorder Treatments
The main treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are cognitive behavioral therapy, medicines, or both:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy. It teaches you different ways of thinking, behaving, and reacting to the obsessions and compulsions. One specific type of CBT that can treat OCD is called Exposure and Response Prevention (EX/RP). EX/RP involves gradually exposing you to your fears or obsessions. You learn healthy ways to deal with the anxiety they cause.
- Medicines for OCD include certain types of antidepressants. If those don’t work for you, your provider may suggest taking some other type of psychiatric medicine.