Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

What is obsessive compulsive disorder

Have you ever had a superstition and no matter how much people tell you that it makes no sense, you just can’t help but avoid that ladder? Or have you ever left the house and had a niggling feeling that you’ve left the backdoor open? Thoughts like this occur to us all at times and they can be annoying and distracting, but if they start to take up more of your time and stop you from doing things, it might be a sign of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD.

The image of Jack Nicholson in the film As Good As It Gets often springs to mind when people mention OCD. His continual hand-washing, skipping over the cracks in the pavement and having to do things in a particular order are all entertaining in the context of the film. But symptoms like these can be very distressing, causing huge disruption to everyday life. People with OCD become locked in a cycle of thought that is hard to escape, and outward signs like hand-washing are often a way of coping with or reducing the distress of these troubling thoughts.

What are the symptoms?

Obsessions and rituals are often very personal, but there are some symptoms that are more common than others. These can be broken down into the obsessive thoughts and the compulsive behaviours that follow on from them.

Common obsessions

• Fear of contamination
• Need for perfection
• Fear of harming others
• Intrusive thoughts eg sexual impulses
• Preoccupation with a specific disease
• Fear of throwing things away.

Common compulsions

• Hand-washing
• Repeated actions
• Checking
• Counting
• Hoarding
• Ordering and arranging.

Men are much more likely to use alcohol as a way of coping with stressful thoughts, but this can be especially dangerous for someone with OCD. It might help someone to forget about their obsession and reduce anxiety in the short term, but addiction is always a possibility, and the comedown can even lead to a worsening of anxiety and symptoms. What’s more, if someone with OCD is on medication, mixing this with alcohol may have added dangers.

Did you know?

OCD affects up to 3% of the population. Men are just as likely as women to have OCD. Symptoms often appear earlier in men.

How do you get OCD?

There are lots of theories about why people develop OCD, but despite large amounts of research, so far no agreement has been reached. However, some of the things suggested to cause OCD are:

Biological factors

• A chemical called Serotonin has been connected with OCD but this is still under discussion
• There’s also a chance that the condition could be inherited through genetics.

Psychological and social factors

• Life experiences could change the way you view the world
• Similarly, traumatic events could change the way you think or trigger worries over something happening again.

So what can you do about OCD?

Even though we don’t really know what causes OCD, there are plenty of things that are available that can help manage the symptoms so that you can get on with life. The most common ways of treating OCD are therapy and/or medication.

A form of psychological therapy called Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (or CBT) is frequently used to change obsessive thought patterns, and relaxation techniques can help to ease anxious thoughts.

Anti-depressant drugs like SSRIs which affect the level of the chemical serotonin in your brain are sometimes used, but as with all drugs, there is always the risk of becoming dependent so careful monitoring with your GP is essential.

Once OCD is recognised and treatment is sought, sufferers often go on to lead normal lives, so it’s really important to get help as soon as possible.

OCD is often misunderstood by friends and family, so just knowing that other people are going through a similar thing can be a big help. In this way, support groups can be great sources of relief, giving you the opportunity to be yourself without fear of being judged (see ‘more information’ for advice on how to find support groups in your local area).

More information

1. The Edinburgh Psychology Centre can help you. Contact us on 0131-668-1440 to find out more or to arrange an initial session.
2. Alternatively you may wish to speak to your GP who should be able to refer you to someone suitable.
3. See our links at www.edinburghtherapy.co.uk/links.htm for details of organisations who may be able to provide assistance or information.

Click here for a pdf version of this obsessive compulsive disorder information sheet.

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