OCD- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a psychiatric disorder. That means it affects a person’s mind, emotions, and/or behaviors.

“People with OCD suffer from obsessions and compulsions,” explains Dr. Wilhelm. “Obsessions are recurrent thoughts, but they can also be mental images. Typically, these obsessions cause a lot of anxiety, a lot of distress, so the person tries to get rid of them by engaging in a compulsion.”

Common obsessions include:

• Fear of contamination (making something dirty or poisonous)

• Fears of losing or forgetting something

• Fears of having made a mistake

• Concerns for symmetry or exactness

• Disturbing, intrusive thoughts involving sex, religion, or violence

Common compulsions include:

• Double-checking things, like locks, faucets, or switches, over and over

• Frequent hand washing and/or cleaning

• Repeating something again and again until it feels right

• Replaying past conversations or events

• Praying silently to prevent a feared event from happening

People with OCD may experience other obsessions and compulsions as well.

Risk factors for OCD

OCD can start in childhood or early adulthood. Most people who will have the disorder develop it by around age 25. It's usually a chronic disorder, and it can be managed with treatment.

We don't know for sure what causes OCD, but your family history, psychology, environment, and the way your body works could all play a role. Personality traits like perfectionism may put a person at risk of developing OCD. Stressful life events and psychological trauma may also play a role.

"We know that OCD runs in families, so if you already have a family member who has OCD, you are more likely to develop OCD yourself."

Studies show that people with OCD have some biological traits in common. These include hyperactivity in specific of the brain and an imbalance in some of the brain’s chemical messengers (called neurotransmitters).