Obsessive Compulsive Disorders

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that affects 2-3% of
the population, making it the fourth most common psychiatric disorder in the United
States. The essential characteristics of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder are recurrent
obsessions or compulsions that are severe enough to cause significant impairment
with a person's normal routine or occur for more than I hour per day. Obsessions are
recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses or images that are experienced as intrusive,
inappropriate, and cause marked anxiety or distress. Compulsions are repetitive
behaviors or mental acts that are intended to prevent or reduce distress from a dreaded
event or situation.

• Common obsessions include:
  
• Fears of contamination.
  
• Fears of hurting or killing someone.
  
• Fears of forgetting to do something.
  
• Fears of doing something embarrassing or immoral.
  

Common compulsions or rituals include:

• Excessive washing or cleaning.
  
• Checking.
  
• Repeating actions.
  
• Hoarding or saving items.
  
• Putting things in a set pattern.
  

OCD is a relatively common problem. It has been estimated by recent community studies
that there is a lifetime prevalence rate of 2.5% of the general population that meet the
diagnostic criteria for this disorder. The majority of individuals who do not seek treatment
experience a waxing and waning chronic course that may be exacerbated by stress. Recent
research has demonstrated that 90% of the general population have thoughts similar to
those experienced by individuals with OCD. The major difference is that those people
with OCD are more distressed by these thoughts. Because of this distress, individuals
with OCD develop elaborate strategies to avoid these thoughts. These strategies are
generally ineffective and therefore individuals often turn to other methods to reduce anxiety
such as performing some action. While this may temporarily relieve anxiety, in most
cases rituals are performed because of the belief and prediction that if the person does
not engage in the ritual some dire consequence will occur or they will not be able to
tolerate the anxiety they anticipate experiencing.