Can you tell me what OCD is? A friend has told me she suffers from it and I’d like to know more about it in order to help.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, OCD, is an anxiety disorder characterised by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviours (compulsions).
Common obsessions include concerns about contamination from taps or door handles, worrying that the front door was not locked or being afraid that one may become aggressive and try to physically harm someone else.
While obsessions are not always accompanied by compulsions, the majority of sufferers also experience an urge or compulsion to use repetitive, purposeful, intentional acts or rituals to control the obsession. Repetitive behaviours such as hand washing, counting, checking or cleaning are often performed with the hope of preventing obsessive thoughts or making them go away.
While performing these rituals tends to provide only temporary relief, not performing them markedly increases anxiety. Most people with the condition are aware that their obsessive thoughts do not reflect actual risks and that their compulsive routines are ineffective.
Although she says she has had it for a number of years, I really never noticed her carrying out any repeated actions.
Most rituals, such as excessive hand washing or repeated checking, may be obvious. However, other rituals such as repetitive counting or quietly repeating statements, which are intended to diminish danger, cannot be readily observed.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder occurs about equally in men and women, and is thought to affect about 2 per cent of the population. Children can also be affected by OCD. People with obsessive-compulsive disorder are very often embarrassed by their condition and keep it hidden for fear of being stigmatised. As a result rituals are often performed secretly, even though the rituals may occupy several hours each day. Those with OCD may also experience depression at some point in their lives.
Can anything be done to help it?
Treatment may include a combination of psychological therapy and medications. Cognitive behavioural therapy has been found to be helpful in the treatment of OCD. Exposure therapy is where the sufferer is repeatedly exposed to situations that trigger their obsessions while learning not to perform the compulsive ritual. Discomfort or anxiety gradually diminish during repeated exposure as the person learns that rituals are not needed to lessen discomfort. Antidepressant medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and some tricyclic drugs are also used in the treatment of OCD.
