The Rudiments of OCD
The Rudiments of OCD
With the recent finding that OCD is the fourth major mental disorder prevalent in the US, it is imperative for every one of us to understand the nuances of this mental disorder in detail. Get to know the intricacies of OCD in brief and provide the required support and care when you confront patients suffering from this mental disorder in future.
What is OCD?
OCD refers to the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This is a mental anxiety disorder that is seen in adolescents and at the commencement of adulthood. The disease entails the patient suffering from unavoidable obsessions and/or compulsions due to the terrific fear and anxiety of an unlikely impending harm which he perceives to be highly likely.
Obsessions include resistance to touch door knobs for fear of contamination, opposition to hold a pack of tissue for the fear of contracting allergies, resistance and provocation on hearing things related to Death, God or Devils and the like.
Compulsions constitute the repetitive actions that are carried out by the patient with the aim of suppressing the anxiety that emerge due to the obsessive feelings though they are practically irrational and illogical.
Possible Causes
The causes of OCD can be categorized into Environmental and Biological factors
Environmental factors include the untimely demise of a beloved one, traumas, changes in life scenarios, prolonged illnesses, workplace or school related problems, bitter memories of the past that induce fear about someone or something which further leads to obsession, anxiety and repetitive actions to get rid of them.
Biological factors that are deemed to be the possible causes of OCD are still under clinical trials. However, the major ones are the possibility of a genetic mutation, improper functioning of serotonin in the brain and miscommunication between orbitofrontal cortex, thalamus and caudate nucleus.
OCD Symptoms
The symptoms of OCD can entail the following obsessions:
Restrictions with respect to touching doors, shaking hands, handling tissues
Fear of contamination
Sexual obsessions
Being very doubtful and a tendency necessitating constant reassurance
Fear of God, Devil and Death
Fear of disgrace in public
Inability to accept mistakes
Urge for an inexplicable orderliness and the like
Additionally, OCD in some cases is associated with the following compulsions too
Repetitive bathing and washing hands that go to extends of causing skin inflammation and dermatitis
Repetitive number counting
Uttering prayers for countless times
Inability to concentrate on daily routine due to repetitive actions to wards off anxiousness
Hoarding articles of no value for the fear of loosing something
Tending to keep on arranging/ordering things and putting them in place.
Inability to accept the work of others for the fear of misdoing etc.
OCD Treatment in Brief
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that includes Exposure Response/routine Prevention is the best and the most effective treatment in vogue today. This, when combined with dosage of antibiotics has proven to be fruitful.
Intake of select anti depressants as per doctor’s advice, consumption of selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the intake of atypical antipsychotic are other powerful treatment for OCD. Psychotherapy has proven to be the last resort for treating OCD.
Intake of Inositol, opioids and nutritional supplements are also considered as alternative medications for treating OCD.
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