Characteristics of OCD

An obsession is the portion of OCD that is mental. Obsessions are the images, thoughts, and/or impulses that consistently and repeatedly remain in the individual's mind, and take over control of the individual. While the individual afflicted with OCD does not want these ideas or impulses, feeling that they are intrusive, and illogical, he or she is still unable to control them.

It is this factor of obsessions that allows us to distinguish the obsessions themselves from other symptoms of OCD, which include worry and depressive preoccupations or even from simply fantasy. An obsession usually occurs in conjunction with troubled feelings, such as:

Fear,

Apprehension,

Anxiety,

Disgust,

Tension,

Or an "off" feeling, where things just feel out of place.

There are certain themes that occur the most frequently with OCD. These themes can take many different forms and be expressed in many way. They are:

Contamination - with regards to germs, specific diseases, dirt, chemicals, etc

• Symmetry or preciseness - of objects, words, movements, etc

• Doubting - whether appliances have been shut off, doors are locked, accuracy of work, etc

• Aggressive impulses - such as pushing someone onto the road, stabbing a loved one, etc

Accidentally harming someone - fear of accidentally contaminating or poisoning someone, causing a fire, breaking into a place, etc

• Religious - satanic thoughts, distressing ideas about morality, sexual desires for a holy person

Sexual - ideas about sexual acts that upset the individual

Other obsessions, considered to be in the "miscellaneous" category, are superstitions (for example, with colors or numbers), or the strong desire to know details about a place that are otherwise considered trivial (house numbers, license plate numbers)

The feelings caused by obsessions lead people who suffer from OCD into performing a behavior or ritual that seeks to relieve them from their obsessive feelings. These behaviors are the "compulsion" portion of OCD. By acting on the compulsions, the individual does not obtain a sensation of pleasure - compulsions are performed only to obtain some relief from the discomfort that is felt due to the obsessions. This is important, since though compulsions are frequently embarrassing, excessive, and problem-causing, the sufferers feel that they are completely powerless to resist them.

Compulsions, like obsessions, can take on certain common themes. These include:

Washing and cleaning

Checking, double checking, triple checking.

Counting

Repeating actions or thoughts (sometimes related to "checking")

Needing to ask for reassurance or confess

Hoarding

Ordering and arranging

Repeating words, phrases, prayers, etc to oneself

Other features that can be quite common in people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder are:

Avoidance

Thought suppression

OCD can be caused by a number of different factors, including biological and psychological. Depending on the cause, there are different treatments available.

Biological factors include:

• Brain activity - which can be identified through such techniques as Positron Emission Tomography (PET), as well as Magnetic Resonance Imagery (MRI). These techniques demonstrate irregularities in the brain circuitry and other structures. Though the exact nature of the layout of the brain is not known, when an irregularity is present, it may be recognized.

Neurotransmitters - These are the chemicals by which nerve cells communicate from one to the other, in order to send messages to the brain. The most common type of neurotransmitter that is involved in OCD, is serotonin.

Genetics - There is powerful evidence that OCD runs along family lines. Though the actual gene that is to blame has not been identified, research has suggested that genes do play a role in the development of OCD.

Psychological factors include:

Belief about Obsessions - When it comes to OCD, misinterpretations commonly create focus on meaningfulness of obsessive thoughts. These problematic beliefs about obsessions can develop into many different forms.

• Personality traits - research has demonstrated that certain general and specific personality traits can be linked to OCD. These include anxiety, and the tendency to become anxious frequently, easily, or by many different circumstances. Another trait includes perfectionism.

Attention and information usage - people who have OCD have a tendency to focus on information that relates to their concerns, and pay little attention to information that is not related to their concerns.

Life experiences - different stresses in life will put OCD sufferers at risk for making their symptoms even worse. Moreover, emotional problems, like depression, can make an OCD sufferer more vulnerable to allowing symptoms to develop.

Treatments for OCD depend on the cause. For biologically caused OCD, drugs are usually the most effective solution. Frequently these medications effect the uptake of serotonin, the brain neurotransmitter. To treat OCD that is caused by psychological reasons have two possible treatments: behavior therapy, cognitive therapy - or a combination of the two.

SUGGESTED READINGS

Foa, E.B. & Wilson, R. (2001). Stop obsessing! How to overcome your obsessions and compulsions, revised edition. New York: Bantam Books.

Hyman, B., & Pedrick, C. (1999) The OCD workbook. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

Penzel, F. (2000). Obsessive-compulsive disorders: A complete guide to getting well and staying well. New York: Oxford University Press.

Schwartz, J.M. (1996). Brain lock: Free yourself from obsessive-compulsive behavior. New York: HarperCollins.

Please consider our reading room for further information