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Most obsessive-compulsive behavior is related to concerns about harm or risk.
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Doctors diagnose the disorder when a person has obsessions, compulsions, or both.
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Treatment may include exposure therapy (with prevention of compulsive rituals) and certain antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or clomipramine).
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is slightly more common among women than men and affects about 1 to 2% of the population. On average, OCD begins at about age 19 to 20 years, but over 25% of cases begin before age 14 (see also Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Related Disorders in Children and Adolescents). Up to 30% of people with OCD have had or have a tic disorder.
OCD differs from psychotic disorders, in which people lose contact with reality. OCD also differs from obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, although people with these disorders may have some of the same characteristics, such as being orderly or reliable or being a perfectionist.
Symptoms
People with OCD have obsessions—thoughts, images, or urges that occur over and over even though people do not want them to. These obsessions intrude even when people are thinking about and doing other things. Also, obsessions usually cause great distress or anxiety. The obsessions usually involve thoughts of harm, risk, or danger.
Common obsessions include the following:
Because the obsessions are not pleasurable, people often try to ignore and/or control them.
Compulsions (also called rituals) are one way people respond to their obsessions. For example, they may feel driven to do something—repetitive, purposeful, and intentional—to try to prevent or relieve the anxiety caused by their obsessions.
Common compulsions include the following:
Most rituals, such as excessive handwashing or repeated checking to make sure a door has been locked, can be observed. Other rituals, such as repetitive counting or quietly mumbling statements intended to diminish danger, cannot be observed.
Rituals may have to be done in a precise way according to rigid rules. The rituals may or may not be logically connected to the obsession. When compulsions are logically connected to the obsession (for example, showering to avoid being dirty or checking the stove to prevent fire), they are clearly excessive. For example, people may shower for hours each day or always check the stove 30 times before they leave the house. All obsessions and rituals are time-consuming. People may spend hours each day on them. They may cause so much distress or interfere with functioning so much that people are incapacitated.
Most people with OCD have both obsessions and compulsions.
Most people with OCD are somewhat aware that their obsessive thoughts do not reflect actual risks and that their compulsive behaviors are excessive. However, a few people are convinced that their obsessions are well-founded and that their compulsions are reasonable.
Some people with OCD are aware that their compulsive behaviors are excessive. Thus, they may perform their rituals secretly, even though the rituals may occupy several hours each day.
As a result of OCD symptoms, relationships may deteriorate, and people with OCD may do less well in school or at work.
Many people with OCD also have other mental health disorders. About 75% of people with OCD also have a lifetime diagnosis of an anxiety disorder, about 50 to 60% have a lifetime diagnosis of a major depressive disorder, and 23 to 32% have obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. About 15 to 20% of people with OCD have major depressive disorder at the time the disorder is diagnosed.
About half of the people with OCD have suicidal thoughts at some point, and up to one fourth attempt suicide. Risk of a suicide attempt is increased if people also have major depressive disorder.
Diagnosis
Treatment
Exposure therapy and ritual (response) prevention therapy are often effective in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder. Exposure therapy involves gradually and repeatedly exposing people to whatever (situations or people) triggers obsessions, rituals, or discomfort but not letting them perform the compulsive ritual (ritual prevention therapy). Discomfort or anxiety gradually diminishes during repeated exposure as people learn that rituals are unnecessary for decreasing discomfort. The improvement usually persists for years, perhaps because people who have mastered this approach are able to continue to practice it after formal treatment has ended.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (such as fluoxetine), a type of antidepressant, and clomipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant, are often effective. Many experts believe that a combination of exposure and ritual prevention therapy and drug therapy is the best treatment.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy (which emphasizes the identification of unconscious patterns in current thoughts, feelings, and behaviors) and psychoanalysis have generally not been effective for people with OCD.
