Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder which can afflict a person throughout his/her lifetime: “The individual who suffers from OCD becomes trapped in a pattern of repetitive thoughts and behaviors that are senseless and distressing but extremely difficult to overcome” (http:www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/ocd.htm). Obsessions and compulsions are the two main components of this disorder. The former are often highly negative such as an ever-present fear of germs. Compulsions such as repetitive handwashing are rituals designed to lessen anxiety produced by obsessions. Depending on the severity, OCD can have an adverse effect in every aspect of that persons life. The outlook is optimistic, however, because research has shown that even people suffering from severe OCD may benefit from medication, behavioral therapy, or a combination of the two.
Researchers have gained much insight into the cause of the disorder by comparing OCD brains with “normal” brains. There is continued debate about whether OCD is caused by neurobiological factors, environmental influences, or both. There is at least evidence to show that the brains of OCD sufferers differ from “normal” brains in systematic ways: “Recent preliminary studies of the brain using magnetic resonance imaging showed that the subjects with OCD had significantly less white matter than did normal control subjects, suggesting a widely distributed brain abnormality in OCD” (
Other researchers have suggested that OCD results from “an imbalance of a chemical [(neurotransmitter)] in the brain called serotonin [(note: other NTs such as dopamine and norepinephrine have also been implicated in OCD)]” (
Medications and Psychotherapy are treatments for OCD. Unfortunately, once the medication is discontinued the symptoms often reappear.
One very effective form of behavioral therapy involves teaching the patient “exposure and response prevention techniques”: how to deal with obsessions and compulsions without rituals (