Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

People with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are beset by thoughts and behavioral rituals that they cannot resist. OCD usually begins in adolescence or early adulthood, and most onsets are gradual. Onset may appear to be sudden, but that is usually because the patient kept the rituals secret until they were discovered or became too difficult to hide. The person with OCD is, on the average, considerably worse off than a person with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) because, in the latter case, some features of the disorder may have some adaptive benefits and the perfectionism is under better voluntary control. Most people with OCD suffer anxiety or panic if they try to resist their compulsion, and they may find their obsessions with songs or thoughts equally compulsory. 

Drug treatments for OCD are helpful in about 70% of the cases at this time, and cognitive- behavioral therapy may also be helpful. However, the disorder is chronic in most cases, with continued need for medication likely. The severity of the disorder cycles, but it seldom disappears completely. Recent studies indicate a higher prevalence than was earlier believed (1.5% to 2.1%), perhaps because the disorder is so often kept hidden. 

If you or someone you love has obsessive-compulsive disorder, you may find relief if you consult a mental health professional (clinician, therapist). A mental health professional  will conduct a thorough evaluation  to first understand what is happening and then will discuss treatment options, including medications.

There are many ways family members or loved ones can help individuals to deal with their disorder better. 

Read a book on the subject:

Stop Obsessing! How to Overcome Your Obsessions and Compulsions by Edna B. Foa, R. Reid Wilson

Memoirs of an Amnesiac by Oscar Levant

Learn more about this disorder from the National Institute of Mental Health, general information, facts on OCD, and information on effects of treatment.
Visit a web site maintained by an organization of people with OCD.

                                                                                                                                Last updated  12/19/03