Obsessive-Compulsive

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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Bettina Pfeiffer
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WHAT IS OCD?

• Obsession- a thought, image or impulse that
  occurs repeatedly outside of the persons
  control.
• Compulsion- an act that is performed repeatedly
  usually in accordance to a certain set of rules.
• A disorder that interferes with information
  processing
• Characterized by repeated thoughts and
  compulsions (usually unpleasant thoughts) and
  ritualistic behaviors
• A compulsive act is performed due to an obsession
  (e.g. checking to make sure the stove is off
  repeatedly because you are continuously afraid
  you left it on.)
• OCD can begin at any age but the first signs of
  OCD usually surface before the age of 40
• Described as mental hiccups by those who have the
  disorder

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SYMPTOMS

• Excessive worries, doubts or superstitious
  beliefs.
• Most adults with the disorder realize that their
  thoughts and responses are irrational separating
  OCD patients from obsessive-compulsive
  personality disorder patients who experience many
  of the same symptoms but are not able to
  recognize that they have a problem.
• The obsessions and their responses are often very
  time consuming therefore interfere with the
  persons daily life.

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CAUSES

• Genetics- people with a history of OCD in their
  family are more likely to have the disorder.
• Some children develop OCD after having a
  streptococcus infection (strep throat) in which
  their immune system has attacked some normally
  healthy cells. This form of OCD usually fades out
  within a few months after the infection and can
  be treated with antibiotics.

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OCD is believed to involve abnormalities in the
orbital frontal cortex, the Caudate nucleus and
the limbic system (the areas associated with
skill learning, anxiety and habit formation.)
These areas of the brain all use the chemical
messenger serotonin. Low levels of serotonin are
also believed to be involved in OCD.
http//merck.micromedex.com
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TREATMENTS

• Cognitive-
• Cognitive behavioral therapy- the cognitive part
  involves reducing the patients exaggerated
  thought pattern. The behavioral therapy includes
  exposure and response prevention. Exposure is
  when the patient is continuously exposed to their
  worries until the anxiety disappears. Response
  prevention is when the patient is told not only
  to expose themselves to their fears but not to
  respond the way they usually do (e.g. if the
  patient is always worried about germs, they will
  be told to stay in contact with things that they
  consider to have too many germs and then they
  will be told not to wash their hands every time
  they come in contact with these objects.)
• Learning-
• Relaxation techniques- learning ways to relax
  such as breathing deeply or finding and learning
  to do an activity that relaxes the patient can
  help relieve the stress that can sometimes
  trigger OCD.
• Biological-
• Serotonin enhancers (anti-depressants) - Prozac,
  Zoloft, Paxil.
• Surgery- involves creating lesions in a part of
  the brain. The name of the procedure depends on
  which part is affected. (surgery is a very
  uncommon choice)

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http//merck.micromedex.com