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This week You! takes a look at the causes and symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder...
Have you ever come across someone who washes hands, uses hand sanitizer or checks on things repeatedly? Sadly, many of us tend to ridicule or be critical about such people. However, we often overlook the fact that these quirks or repetitive behaviours may point to a more serious issue: obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It is a condition marked by obsessive thoughts and compulsions. According to the World Health Organization, OCD is one of the top 20 causes of illness-related disability, worldwide, for individuals between 15 and 44 years of age.
What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Actually, obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder in which people have recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas or sensations (obsessions) that make them feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions). To get rid of the thoughts, a person with OCD does the same tasks over and over again. It’s normal, on occasion, to go back and double-check if the iron is unplugged or car is locked. But if one is suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours become so consuming that they interfere with a person’s daily activities and social interactions.
Many people have focused thoughts or repeated behaviours, but these do not disrupt their daily lives. However, for people with OCD, thoughts are persistent. Also unwanted routines are rigid and not doing them causes great distress. OCD patients have a hard time keeping their focus off their obsessions and stopping their compulsive actions.
Causes of OCD
The exact cause of obsessive-compulsive disorder has not been discovered yet. However, various researches suggest that there may be a problem with the way one part of the brain sends information to another part. Also studies show that not having enough serotonin (a brain chemical) might be one of the causes. Moreover, some experts believe that a problem related to streptococcal infections, such as strep throat and scarlet fever, can suddenly bring on the disorder.
OCD symptoms
OCD causes the brain to get stuck on a particular thought or urge. Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder tend to come and go over time and range from mild to severe. Anxiety is the most common symptom. For example, the patient may have an overall sense that something terrible will happen if he/she doesn’t perform a certain task - like checking the stove 20 times to make sure it is really turned off.
Understanding OCD obsessions and compulsions
OCD patients have both obsessions and compulsions, but some people experience just one or the other. However, it is important to understand what are ‘obsessions’ and ‘compulsions’.
Obsessions are involuntary thoughts, images or impulses that occur over and over again in one’s mind, where one doesn’t want to have these ideas, but is unable to stop them. Unfortunately, these obsessive thoughts are often disturbing and distracting. Compulsions, on the other hand, are behaviours or rituals that one feels driven to act out again and again. Usually, compulsions are performed in an attempt to make obsessions go away. For instance, if the person suffering from OCD is afraid of contamination, he/she might develop elaborate cleaning rituals. However, the relief never lasts. In fact, the obsessive thoughts usually come back stronger. And the compulsive behaviours often end up causing anxiety as those rituals become more demanding and time-consuming. Hence the vicious cycle of OCD goes on and on.
Most people with obsessive-compulsive disorder fall into one of the following categories:
Washers are afraid of contamination. They usually have cleaning or hand-washing compulsions.
Checkers repeatedly check things (oven turned off, door locked, etc.) that they associate with harm or danger.
Doubters and sinners are afraid that if everything isn’t perfect or done just right something terrible will happen, or they will be punished.
Counters and arrangers are obsessed with order and symmetry. They may have superstitions about certain numbers, colours, or arrangements.
Hoarders fear that something bad will happen if they throw anything away. They compulsively hoard things that they don’t need or use.
The obsessions or compulsions usually take up a lot of time - more than one hour a day. They greatly interfere with one’s normal routine at work or school, and they also affect social activities and relationships.
-Check out how to deal with OCD patients in our next week’s issue. Ed.