Definition

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder. The person suffers from unwanted repetitive thoughts and behaviors. These obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors are very difficult to overcome. If severe and untreated, OCD can destroy the ability to function at work, school, or home.

Frontal Lobe

This part of the brain is believed to be the area of impulse control.

© 2009 Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Causes

The cause is unknown. OCD might be due to neurobiological, environmental, genetic, and psychological factors. An imbalance of serotonin (a brain chemical) may play a major role.

OCD is linked to other neurological disorders, including:

• Tourette syndrome
• Trichotillomania—the repeated urge to pull out scalp hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, or other body hair
• Body dysmorphic disorder—imaginary or exaggerated defects in appearance
• Eating disorders (such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa)
• Hypochondriasis
• Substance abuse

Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. Risk factors include:

• Age: late adolescence, early adulthood
• Family members with a history of OCD
• Other anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Organic brain syndrome
• Schizophrenia
• Tourette syndrome
• Personality disorder
• Attention deficit disorder

Symptoms

Symptoms:

• Obsessions—unwanted, repetitive, and intrusive ideas, impulses, or images
• Compulsions—repetitive behaviors or mental acts to reduce the distress associated with obsessions

People with OCD may know that their thoughts and behaviors do not make sense. And they would like to avoid or stop them. But they are often unable to block their obsessive thoughts or compulsions.

Common obsessions:

• Persistent fears that harm may come to self or a loved one
• Unreasonable concern with being contaminated
• Unacceptable religious, violent, or sexual thoughts
• Excessive need to do things correctly or perfectly
• Persistent worries about a tragic event

Common compulsions:

• Excessive checking of door locks, stoves, water faucets, light switches, etc.
• Repeatedly making lists, counting, arranging, or aligning things
• Collecting and hoarding useless objects
• Repeating routine actions a certain number of times until it feels just right
• Unnecessary rereading and rewriting
• Mentally repeating phrases
• Repeatedly washing hands

Diagnosis

OCD is usually diagnosed through a psychiatric assessment. OCD is diagnosed when obsessions and/or compulsions either:

• Cause a person significant distress
• Interfere with a person’s ability to properly perform at work, school, or in relationships

Treatment

Treatment reduces OCD thoughts and behaviors. But treatment does not completely eliminate them. Most commonly, treatment is a combination of medication and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Treatments include:

Prevention

There are no guidelines for preventing OCD because the cause is not known. But early intervention may help before it becomes worse.