Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry, by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated anxiety, or by a combination of such obsessions and compulsions.... hence the name. It is estimated that up to 3% of adults and 5% of children and teenagers have OCD.
Symptoms
Most people with OCD generally fall into a set pattern or cycle of thought and behaviour. This pattern has four main steps:
Obsession – your mind is overwhelmed by a constant obsessive fear or concern, such as the fear that your house will be burgled.
Anxiety – this obsession provokes a feeling of intense anxiety and distress.
Compulsion – you then adopt a pattern of compulsive behavior to reduce your anxiety and distress, such as checking that all your windows and doors are locked at least three times before leaving your house.
Temporary relief – the compulsive behavior brings temporary relief from anxiety, but the obsession and anxiety soon return, causing the pattern or cycle to begin again.
Treatment
Cognitive behavioral therapy - involving graded exposure and response prevention has repeatedly proved to be an effective treatment for OCD.
Medication - You may be prescribed medication if CBT fails to treat mild OCD or if you have moderate or severe OCD. The different types of medication that you may be prescribed are discussed below.
