Once thought to be psychodynamic in origin, OCD is now generally recognized as having a neurobiological cause.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common anxiety disorder. It causes unreasonable thoughts, fears, or worries.
In DSM-5, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder sits under its own category of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders and within that the following subcategories were placed: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) Hoarding Disorder.
Is OCD a Brain Disorder? Research suggests that OCD involves problems in communication between the front part of the brain and deeper structures of the brain. These brain structures use a neurotransmitter (basically, a chemical messenger) called serotonin.
Many investigators have contributed to the hypothesis that OCD involves dysfunction in a neuronal loop running from the orbital frontal cortex to the cingulate gyrus, striatum (cuadate nucleus and putamen), globus pallidus, thalamus and back to the frontal cortex.
Brain scans may be helpful in showing the differences in the structure and function of brain regions in individuals with OCD. Such studies can provide new targets for the treatment of OCD.
The bottom line
OCD can manifest in four main ways: contamination/washing, doubt/checking, ordering/arranging, and unacceptable/taboo thoughts. Obsessions and compulsions that revolve about contamination and germs are the most common type of OCD, but OCD can cover a wide range of topics.
Why OCD is no longer considered an anxiety disorder. Though distressing thoughts are a big part of both generalized anxiety disorder and OCD, the key difference is that OCD is characterized by intrusive, obsessive thoughts that trigger this anxiety, and are followed by compulsive actions done to relieve it.
The inheritance pattern of OCD is unclear. Overall, the risk of developing this condition is greater for first-degree relatives of affected individuals (such as siblings or children) as compared to the general public.
The onset of OCD is not limited to the original meaning of trauma; rather, traumatic experiences such as unexpected exposure to contaminants or various stressful life events often cause the onset of OCD.
Some people with OCD are high-functioning. This means they have the fears, anxieties, obsessions, and compulsions that other people with the condition do, but they are better able to manage them or hide them from others. You may function well at work for now, but without treatment your symptoms can get worse.
Although both OCD and ASD have similar symptoms, they are different conditions. OCD is a mental health disorder, whereas ASD is a developmental condition. ASD is a condition that a person is born with. OCD can develop during a person's lifetime.
The World Health Organization ranks OCD as one of the 10 most handicapping conditions by lost income and decreased quality of life.
While anxiety disorders are typically characterized by excessive worry, OCD is marked by unwanted thoughts that lead to compulsive mental or physical reactions. A person with an anxiety disorder will experience excessive worry, but not engage in compulsive behavior to reduce their anxiety.
Because symptoms usually worsen with age, people may have difficulty remembering when OCD began, but can sometimes recall when they first noticed that the symptoms were disrupting their lives. As you may already know, the symptoms of OCD include the following: Unwanted or upsetting doubts.
Common compulsive behaviors in OCD include:
Repeatedly checking in on loved ones to make sure they're safe. Counting, tapping, repeating certain words, or doing other senseless things to reduce anxiety. Spending a lot of time washing or cleaning. Ordering or arranging things “just so”.
1. Organization. Possibly the most recognizable form of OCD, this type involves obsessions about things being in precisely the right place or symmetrical.
In a series of graphics, Earnshaw breaks down the 4 Rs: relabeling, reattributing, refocusing, and revaluing—a therapy technique developed by psychology Jeffrey Schwartz that's often used in treatment for OCD.
At its most severe, however, OCD can impact someone's ability to work, go to school, run errands, or even care for themselves. People with severe OCD have obsessions with cleanliness and germs — washing their hands, taking showers, or cleaning their homes for hours a day.
Presentation. Primarily obsessional OCD has been called "one of the most distressing and challenging forms of OCD."
Imaging, surgical, and lesion studies suggest that the prefrontal cortex (orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate cortexes), basal ganglia, and thalamus are involved in the pathogenesis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
What happens if OCD is left untreated? Left untreated, the recurring thoughts and urges of OCD can interfere with your thinking and decrease concentration and short-term memory. Intense compulsions can drain your physical and mental energy and consume valuable time.
around 3 per cent of Australians experience OCD in their lifetime.