Overview - Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) - NHS

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common mental health condition where a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. OCD can affect men, ... Skiptomaincontent Home Mentalhealth Mentalhealthconditions Obsessivecompulsivedisorder(OCD) Backto Obsessivecompulsivedisorder(OCD) Overview-Obsessivecompulsivedisorder(OCD) Obsessivecompulsivedisorder(OCD)isacommonmentalhealthconditionwhereapersonhasobsessivethoughtsandcompulsivebehaviours.OCDcanaffectmen,womenandchildren.Somepeoplestarthavingsymptomsearly,oftenaroundpuberty,butitusuallystartsduringearlyadulthood.OCDcanbedistressingandsignificantlyinterferewithyourlife,buttreatmentcan helpyoukeepitundercontrol. Symptoms ofobsessivecompulsivedisorder(OCD) IfyouhaveOCD,you'llusuallyexperiencefrequentobsessivethoughtsandcompulsivebehaviours.Anobsessionisanunwantedandunpleasantthought,imageorurgethatrepeatedlyentersyourmind,causingfeelingsofanxiety,disgustorunease.Acompulsionisarepetitivebehaviourormentalactthat youfeelyouneedtodototemporarilyrelievetheunpleasantfeelingsbroughtonbytheobsessivethought.Forexample,someonewithanobsessive fearofbeingburgledmayfeeltheyneedtocheckallthewindowsanddoorsarelockedseveraltimesbeforetheycanleavetheirhouse.WomencansometimeshaveOCDduringpregnancyoraftertheirbabyisborn.Obsessionsmayincludeworryingaboutharmingthebabyornotsterilisingfeedingbottlesproperly.Compulsionscouldbethingssuchasrepeatedlycheckingthebabyisbreathing. Getting helpforobsessivecompulsivedisorder(OCD)PeoplewithOCDareoftenreluctanttoseekhelpbecausetheyfeelashamed orembarrassed.OCDisahealthconditionlike anyother,sothere'snothingtofeelashamedorembarrassedabout.HavingOCDdoesnotmeanyou're"mad"and it'snotyourfaultyouhaveit.Thereare2mainwaystogethelp:referyourselfdirectlytoapsychologicaltherapiesservice –findapsychologicaltherapiesserviceinyourareaseeaGP –they'llaskaboutyoursymptomsandcanreferyoutoalocalpsychologicaltherapiesserviceifnecessaryIfyouthinkafriendorfamilymembermayhaveOCD,trytalkingtothemaboutyourconcernsandsuggesttheygethelp.It'sunlikelyOCDwillgetbetterwithoutpropertreatmentandsupport. Treatmentsforobsessivecompulsivedisorder(OCD) TherearesomeeffectivetreatmentsforOCDthatcanhelpreducetheimpactithasonyourlife.Themaintreatmentsare:psychologicaltherapy –usuallycognitivebehaviouraltherapy(CBT), which helpsyoufaceyourfearsandobsessivethoughtswithout"puttingthemright"throughcompulsionsmedicine –usuallyatypeofantidepressant medicinecalledselectiveserotoninreuptakeinhibitors(SSRIs), whichcanhelpby alteringthebalanceofchemicalsinyourbrainCBTwillusuallyhaveaneffectquitequickly.ItcantakeseveralmonthsbeforeyounoticetheeffectsoftreatmentwithSSRIs,butmostpeoplewilleventuallybenefit.Ifthesetreatmentsdonothelp,youmaybeofferedanalternativeSSRIorbegivenacombinationofanSSRIandCBT.Somepeoplemaybereferredtoaspecialistmentalhealthserviceforfurthertreatment. Causes ofobsessivecompulsivedisorder(OCD)It'snotclearwhatcausesOCD.Anumberofdifferentfactorsmayplayapart,including:familyhistory – you'remorelikelytodevelopOCDifafamilymemberhasit,possiblybecauseof yourgenesdifferences inthebrain – somepeoplewithOCDhaveareasofunusuallyhighactivityintheirbrainorlowlevelsofachemicalcalledserotoninlifeevents –OCDmaybemorecommoninpeoplewhohavebeenbullied,abusedorneglected,anditsometimes startsafteranimportantlifeevent,suchaschildbirthorabereavementpersonality – neat,meticulous,methodicalpeoplewithhighpersonalstandardsmaybemorelikelytodevelopOCD,alsopeoplewhoaregenerallyquiteanxiousorhaveaverystrongsenseofresponsibilityforthemselvesandothers Support groupsLivingwithOCDcanbedifficult.Inadditiontogettingmedicalhelp,youmightfindit helpstocontactasupportgrouporotherpeople withOCDforinformationandadvice.Thefollowingwebsitesmaybe usefulsourcesofsupport:OCDActionOCD-UKTOPUKHealthUnlockedOCDforumOCDAction,OCD-UKandTOPUKcanalsoletyouknowaboutanylocalsupportgroupsinyourarea. Information: SocialcareandsupportguideThesocialcareandsupportguidehasadviceaboutwhereyoucangetsupportifyou:needhelpwithday-to-daylivingbecauseofillnessordisabilitycareforsomeoneregularlybecausethey'reill,elderlyordisabled,includingfamilymembers Morein Obsessivecompulsivedisorder(OCD) Overview-Obsessivecompulsivedisorder(OCD) Symptoms-Obsessivecompulsivedisorder(OCD) Treatment-Obsessivecompulsivedisorder(OCD) Pagelastreviewed:18November2019 Nextreviewdue:18November2022