Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - WebMD

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness that causes repeated unwanted thoughts or sensations (obsessions) or the urge to do ... MenuMedicalReferenceFeaturesNewsArchiveNews&FeaturesReferenceQuizzesSlideshowsBlogsVideosFindaPsychiatristADHDAnxiety&PanicDisordersBipolarDisorderCrisisAssistanceDepressionEatingDisordersHealth&BalancePersonalityDisordersPTSDSchizophreniaSocialMediaandMentalHealthStressManagementSubstanceAbuse&AddictionMoreRelatedTopicsMentalHealthReferenceMenuMedicallyReviewedbySmithaBhandari, MDonSeptember04,2020InthisArticleWhatIsObsessive-CompulsiveDisorder?OCDTypesandSymptomsObsessionsandCompulsionsOCDCausesandRiskFactorsOCDDiagnosisOCDTreatmentOCD-RelatedConditionsWhatIsObsessive-CompulsiveDisorder?Obsessive-compulsivedisorder(OCD)isamentalillnessthatcausesrepeatedunwantedthoughtsorsensations(obsessions)ortheurgetodosomethingoverandoveragain(compulsions).Somepeoplecanhavebothobsessionsandcompulsions.OCDisn’tabouthabitslikebitingyournailsorthinkingnegativethoughts.Anobsessivethoughtmightbethatcertainnumbersorcolorsare“good”or“bad.”Acompulsivehabitmightbetowashyourhandsseventimesaftertouchingsomethingthatcouldbedirty.Althoughyoumaynotwanttothinkordothesethings,youfeelpowerlesstostop.Everyonehashabitsorthoughtsthatrepeatsometimes.PeoplewithOCDhavethoughtsoractionsthat:TakeupatleastanhouradayArebeyondyourcontrolAren’tenjoyableInterferewithwork,yoursociallife,oranotherpartoflifeOCDTypesandSymptomsOCDcomesinmanyforms,butmostcasesfallintoatleastoneoffourgeneralcategories:Checking,suchaslocks,alarmsystems,ovens,orlightswitches,orthinkingyouhaveamedicalconditionlikepregnancyorschizophreniaContamination,afearofthingsthatmightbedirtyoracompulsiontoclean.Mentalcontaminationinvolvesfeelinglikeyou’vebeentreatedlikedirt.Symmetryandordering,theneedtohavethingslinedupinacertainwayRuminationsandintrusivethoughts,anobsessionwithalineofthought.Someofthesethoughtsmightbeviolentordisturbing.[Self-Test]DoYouHaveSymptomsofOCD?ObsessionsandCompulsionsManypeoplewhohaveOCDknowthattheirthoughtsandhabitsdon’tmakesense.Theydon’tdothembecausetheyenjoythem,butbecausetheycan’tquit.Andiftheystop,theyfeelsobadthattheystartagain.Obsessivethoughtscaninclude:WorriesaboutyourselforotherpeoplegettinghurtConstantawarenessofblinking,breathing,orotherbodysensationsSuspicionthatapartnerisunfaithful,withnoreasontobelieveitCompulsivehabitscaninclude:Doingtasksinaspecificordereverytimeoracertain“good”numberoftimesNeedingtocountthings,likestepsorbottlesFearoftouchingdoorknobs,usingpublictoilets,orshakinghandsOCDCausesandRiskFactorsDoctorsaren’tsurewhysomepeoplehaveOCD.Stresscanmakesymptomsworse.It’sabitmorecommoninwomenthaninmen.Symptomsoftenappearinteensoryoungadults.OCDriskfactorsinclude:Aparent,sibling,orchildwithOCDPhysicaldifferencesincertainpartsofyourbrainDepression,anxiety,orticsExperiencewithtraumaAhistoryofphysicalorsexualabuseasachildSometimes,achildmighthaveOCDafterastreptococcalinfection.Thisiscalledpediatricautoimmuneneuropsychiatricdisordersassociatedwithstreptococcalinfections,orPANDAS.OCDDiagnosisYourdoctormaydoaphysicalexamandbloodteststomakesuresomethingelseisn’tcausingyoursymptoms.Theywillalsotalkwithyouaboutyourfeelings,thoughts,andhabits.OCDTreatmentThere’snocureforOCD.Butyoumaybeabletomanagehowyoursymptomsaffectyourlifethroughmedicine,therapy,oracombinationoftreatments.Treatmentsinclude:Psychotherapy.Cognitivebehavioraltherapycanhelpchangeyourthinkingpatterns.Inaformcalledexposureandresponseprevention,yourdoctorwillputyouinasituationdesignedtocreateanxietyorsetoffcompulsions.You’lllearntolessenandthenstopyourOCDthoughtsoractions.Relaxation.Simplethingslikemeditation,yoga,andmassagecanhelpwithstressfulOCDsymptoms.Medication.Psychiatricdrugscalledselectiveserotoninreuptakeinhibitorshelpmanypeoplecontrolobsessionsandcompulsions.Theymighttake2to4monthstostartworking.Commononesincludecitalopram(Celexa),escitalopram(Lexapro),fluoxetine(Prozac),fluvoxamine,paroxetine(Paxil),andsertraline(Zoloft).Ifyoustillhavesymptoms,yourdoctormightgiveyouantipsychoticdrugslikearipiprazole(Abilify)orrisperidone(Risperdal).Neuromodulation.Inrarecases,whentherapyandmedicationaren’tmakingenoughofadifference,yourdoctormighttalktoyouaboutdevicesthatchangetheelectricalactivityinacertainareaofyourbrain.Onekind,transcranialmagneticstimulation,isFDA-approvedforOCDtreatment.Itusesmagneticfieldstostimulatenervecells.Amorecomplicatedprocedure,deepbrainstimulation,useselectrodesthatareimplantedinyourhead.TMS(transcranialmagneticstimulation). TheTMSunitisanon-invasivedevicethatisheldabovetheheadtoinducethemagneticfield.It targetsaspecificpartofthebrainthatregulatesOCDsymptoms.OCD-RelatedConditionsSomeseparateconditionsaresimilartoOCD.Theyinvolveobsessionswiththingslike:Yourlooks(bodydysmorphicdisorder)Collecting,arranging,ororderingthings(hoardingdisorder)Pullingout/eatingyourhair(trichotillomania)Pickingatyourskin(excoriation)Physicalillness(hypochondriasis)Bodyodororhowyousmell(olfactoryreferencesyndrome)TipsforLivingWithOCDPsychoticvs.Psychopathic:What'stheDifference?MSandDepression:HowAreTheyLinked?AlcoholWithdrawalSymptomsVisualGuidetoBingeEatingDIsorderFeelingAnxious?GettheScooponGADCleanlinessRulesGermaphobes'LivesTonyShalhoubTakesonObsessive-CompulsiveDisorderObsessive-CompulsiveDisorder(OCD)MedicalTreatmentOptionsSymptomsofObsessive-CompulsiveDisorderTheBasicsofObsessive-CompulsiveDisorderObsessive-CompulsiveDisorder(OCD)Self-CareforLivingWithOCDOCDTopicsWhatIsDepression?Differencesbetweenfeelingdepressedorfeelingblue.MoodSwings?ItCouldBeBipolarDisorderSignsofmaniaanddepression.UnderstandingSchizophreniaCauses,symptoms,andtherapies.BingeEatingDisorder:AnOverviewWhenfoodcontrolsyou.Article8DepressionTreatmentTipsArticleCurbingCompulsiveOvereatingSlideshowPhobias:WhatAreYouAfraidOf?ArticleHowMarijuanaAffectsYouArticleTypesofMentalIllness 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