Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

 

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that causes recurring and unwanted thoughts, feelings, urges, or worries, called obsessions. These obsessions disrupt daily life and can cause great anxiety, fear, or disgust. Reasoning does not help with obsessions, even if a person with OCD knows that their obsession is unrealistic. 

People with OCD will often perform rituals to ease or stop the obsessions. When these rituals become time-consuming and disruptive to everyday life, they are called compulsions. Not performing the ritual may cause significant distress to someone with OCD. 

Everyone has worries, and many people engage in repetitive behaviours. However, when distressing thoughts and/or repetitive behaviours become time-consuming and disruptive to everyday life, consider seeking support. If you have obsessions and/or compulsions that disrupt your daily life or cause you distress, contact us to learn how we can support you.

Key facts

  • OCD can begin in early childhood and adolescence. Approximately two-thirds of adults with OCD report that their symptoms started in childhood.

  • Stressful events may trigger OCD episodes or make them worse.

  • Therapy and medication can help decrease the time spent on thought patterns or compulsive behaviours. Treatment is most effective when a combination of therapy and medication is used.

Factors that influence OCD

The exact causes of OCD are not known. Research suggests that OCD is caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and genetic factors. OCD seems to run in families.

Treating OCD

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help with investigating and challenging obsessive thoughts and controlling compulsions. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a type of cognitive-behavioural therapy that was designed to treat individuals with OCD. During ERP, an individual is exposed to images or situations that provoke obsessions and is instructed to resist compulsions. By experiencing these fears or situations in a safe environment, people can learn how to cope with and manage their obsessions and resist compulsive behaviour.

Medication is often used in conjunction with therapy for treating OCD. Typically, antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication is used for treating OCD. Recent research studies have also found that when used under medical supervision, racemic Ketamine treatment can help reduce OCD symptoms quickly and effectively.

Common symptoms of OCD

The main symptoms of OCD are recurring and unwanted obsessions and/or compulsions that:

  • Are time-consuming (take up at least one hour per day)

  • Are distressing

  • Interfere with everyday life, including disruptions within work, school, social interactions, and/or daily activities.

Common obsessive thoughts include:

  • Fear of contamination by people or the environment  (e.g. fear of germs, dirt, body fluids or disease)

  • Repeated doubts (e.g. whether the stove is turned off)

  • Fear of being harmed or harming others

  • Fixation on order, symmetry, or precision

  • Thoughts that are against personal religious beliefs

  • Unwanted or forbidden sexual images, thoughts, or urges

Common compulsions include:

  • Repetitively and/or excessively cleaning (e.g. repeated hand washing, showering, cleaning of household objects, etc.)

  • Repeatedly checking (e.g. checking locks, switches, checking paperwork for errors)

  • Arranging or ordering things in a particular way

  • Mental rituals, like repeating words or counting

Next steps

Our psychologists are here to help. To book a free phone consultation, please call us at 780-860-7338 or fill out our contact form.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (n.d.). What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/what-is-obsessive-compulsive-disorder

Centre for Addiction and  Mental Health. (n.d.). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/obsessive-compulsive-disorder

John Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/obsessivecompulsive-disorder-ocd