What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

Obsessions are thoughts and images that enter a person's mind against their will, that they cannot push out of their mind even though they consider them irrational, and that cause intense distress and unease.

Compulsions, on the other hand, are repetitive behaviors and mental acts performed to reduce or eliminate the intense distress and unease caused by obsessions.

OCD is a mental disorder made up of obsessions and compulsions. It has been found to occur in 2–3% of the population. It can appear at any age, including in preschool children. It is more common in women.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF OCD?

Contamination obsessions and cleaning compulsions:

These are obsessive thoughts that dirt, germs, poison, feces, urine… will contaminate the person's body, clothes or belongings, and the cleaning behaviors carried out to relieve the distress these obsessions cause. For example, a person who has obsessive thoughts that filth from the garbage will contaminate them even if they only pass by at a distance takes off and washes all their clothes when they get home. The person knows this thought is "absurd" but cannot stop themselves from acting on it.

Doubt obsessions and checking compulsions:

This symptom appears as repeatedly checking the stove, door, windows or electrical appliances left plugged in to make sure of one's doubts. For example, a person who doubts that they may have left the door open checks it again and again, and may even ask others to check it because they cannot feel sure.

Harm obsessions:

Obsessive thoughts that the person will unintentionally say hurtful things to others or physically attack them. For example, a person may not want to be alone with their child because of an obsession that they might harm them involuntarily.

Religious obsessions:

These are obsessive thoughts that contradict the person's religious beliefs. An example is blasphemous thoughts about God coming to mind when the person starts to pray.

Counting and touching compulsions:

These are thoughts and behaviors such as "If I leave without touching the door three times, something bad will happen to my loved ones; if I don't say 'repent' 7 times, that bad thing will happen."

Symmetry/order obsessions and compulsions

Obsessions with sexual content

Hoarding compulsions

These thoughts and behaviors can be seen in many people. For them to be considered an illness, they must take up the person's time, cause significant distress and disrupt or prevent their daily activities. Washing your hands when you come in from outside is not an illness; however, if the person thinks they are not clean and washes their hands over and over, spends a lot of time at the tap and neglects other things they need to do while washing their hands, it is considered an illness.

HOW IS OCD TREATED?

Treatment of OCD is important because it is an illness that causes loss of functioning in family, work and social life and lowers quality of life. Medication and psychotherapy are used in treatment.