by Chris Craigie
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder most commonly characterized by a subject's obsessive, distressing, intrusive thoughts and related compulsions (tasks or "rituals") which are an attempt to neutralize the obsessions. To be diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, one must have either obsessions or compulsions alone, or obsessions and compulsions, according to the DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is often confused with the separate condition obsessive compulsive personality disorder. OCD is ego dystonic, meaning that the disorder is incompatible with the sufferer's self-concept. Because disorders that are ego dystonic go against an individual's perception of his/herself, they tend to cause much distress. OCPD, on the other hand, is ego syntonic--marked by the individual's acceptance that the characteristics displayed as a result of this disorder are compatible with his/her self-image. Ego syntonic disorders understandably cause no distress. There is a significant difference between these disorders.
Because sufferers are consciously aware of this irrationality but feel helpless to push it away, untreated OCD is often regarded as one of the most vexing and frustrating of the major anxiety disorders. People with OCD may be diagnosed with other conditions, such as anorexia nervosa, Social Anxiety Disorder, bulimia nervosa, Tourette syndrome, compulsive skin picking, body dysmorphic disorder and trichotillomania. OCD is placed in the anxiety class of mental illness, but like many chronic stress disorders it can lead to clinical depression over time.
One explanation for the high depression rate among OCD populations was posited by Mineka, Watson and Clark (1998), who explained that people with OCD (or any other anxiety disorder) may feel depressed because of an "out of control" type of feeling. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder tends to be slightly more common in females than in males. Violence is very rare among OCD sufferers, but the disorder is often debilitating and detrimental to their quality of life. Also, the psychological self-awareness of the irrationality of the disorder can be painful.
It has been alleged that sufferers are generally of above-average intelligence, as the very nature of the disorder necessitates complicated thinking patterns, but this has never been supported by clinical data.
Studies have also been done that show nutrition deficiencies may also be a probable cause for OCD and other mental disorders. Certain vitamin and mineral supplements may aid in such disorders and provide the nutrients necessary for proper mental functioning.
Emerging evidence has suggested that regular Nicotine treatment may be helpful in improving symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder, although the pharmacodynamical mechanism by which this improvement is achieved is not yet known, and more detailed studies are needed to fully confirm this hypothesis.
A physical exam is performed to rule out physical causes, and a psychiatric evaluation is given to rule out other psychiatric disorders. There is no known prevention for this disorder. Differentiating between obsessive-compulsive disorder and a depressive disorder may be difficult because these two types of symptoms so frequently occur together.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder symptoms can range from strange or disturbing thoughts to extreme 'ritual' behaviour. An example of obsessive-compulsive disorder is excessive, repeated handwashing to ward off infection. The neurotransmitter serotonin appears to have a central role in this disorder.
At one time considered rare,obsessive-compulsive disorder is now recognized as relatively common, exceeding the lifetime prevalence of more visible disorders such as schizophrenia. Despite its earlier reputation as a disorder highly resistant to treatment, a number of effective treatment approaches now exist for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Recent advances in the understanding of obsessive- compulsive disorder have highlighted the role of the family physician in the management of this condition. The disorder is usually chronic, and complete elimination of all symptoms is uncommon, even in patients receiving appropriate treatment.
Statistics show that the best long term treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder is made up of behavior therapy plus medication. Whatever you opt for, remember that the success rate for the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder is a factor of time and dedication.
--About the Author
Chris Craigie is the mother of an OCD sufferer and therefore an indirect sufferer herself. Education is the start of managing this disorder get on the path to regaining control of your life visit http://www.freeinfo-site.com/afflinks/ocdhbook.php