Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness characterized by the presence of 2 types of behavior:
- Obsessions: they are improper or unpleasant thoughts, recurring and persistent, that arise in an undesired way, causing anxiety and suffering, such as, for example, about illnesses, accidents or loss of loved ones; Compulsions: they are repetitive behaviors or mental acts, such as washing hands, organizing objects, checking locks, praying or telling, which cannot be avoided, because besides being a way to reduce anxiety, the person believes that something bad can happen if don't.
This disorder can present different patterns in each person, as associated with fear of contamination, need for recurrent checks or maintaining symmetry, for example.
Despite having no cure, OCD treatment is able to effectively control symptoms in most cases, through psychiatric and psychological monitoring, with the use of antidepressant drugs and a type of therapy known as cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Main symptoms
Some of the main signs and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder include:
- Be constantly concerned about cleanliness, and bothered by the presence of dirt, germs or contamination; Do not touch certain objects without washing your hands afterwards, or avoid places due to concerns about dirt or diseases; Wash your hands or bathe often during the day; constantly reviewing windows, doors or gas; worrying excessively about the alignment, order or symmetry of things; using only clothes, accessories or objects of a certain color or with a certain pattern; being excessively superstitious, like not going in certain places or passing near objects, for fear that something bad might happen; often having the mind invaded by inappropriate or unpleasant thoughts, such as illness, accidents or loss of loved ones; storing useless objects, such as empty boxes, shampoo containers or newspapers and papers.
The symptoms mentioned above can also be accompanied by repetitive behaviors that the person feels he needs to do, in response to the obsession, that is, if the person feels uncomfortable by the presence of dirt (obsession) he will end up washing his hands several times in a row (compulsion).
It is not known exactly what causes OCD, and anyone can develop, however, there are several factors, which together can determine its emergence, such as genetics, psychological factors, such as wrong learning and distorted beliefs, excess anxiety or stress, or even the education received.
How to confirm
To find out if you have OCD, the psychiatrist will do the clinical analysis and identify the presence of signs of obsession and compulsion, which usually last for more than 1 hour a day, and cause suffering or damage to the person's social or professional life.
In addition, it is necessary to note that such symptoms do not happen due to the use of any medication, drugs or the presence of a disease, and they also do not happen due to the presence of another mental disorder, such as generalized anxiety, body dysmorphic disorder, accumulation disorder, excoriation disorder, trichotillomania or eating disorders, schizophrenia or depression, for example.
These signs and symptoms can worsen or become more intense over time and, if OCD becomes severe, it can seriously interfere with the person's daily activities, compromising performance at school or at work, for example. Thus, in the presence of behaviors that indicate this disease, it is important to go to the consultation with the psychiatrist, for correct diagnosis and indication of the appropriate treatment.
Main types
The content of the thoughts or compulsions of the person with OCD can vary from person to person, and can be of several types, such as:
- Verification compulsions: the person feels a compulsive need to check and verify something, in order to avoid damage, such as fires or leaks. Some of the most common checks include the stove, gas, water taps, house alarm, locks, house lights, wallet or purse, the route of a path, searching for diseases and symptoms on the internet or conducting self-exams. Contamination obsessions: there is an uncontrollable need to clean or wash, and to avoid contamination and dirt. Some examples are washing your hands several times a day, not being able to greet others or going to environments such as public bathrooms or reception of medical offices, for fear of contracting germs, in addition to the need to clean the house excessively, especially the kitchen and bathroom; Symmetry compulsions: the need to frequently correct the position of objects, such as books, in addition to wanting everything to be arranged in millimeter order, such as storing clothes and shoes with the same pattern. It is also possible to have symmetry in touches or bumps, like having to touch with your right hand what was touched with the left or vice versa; Counting or repetition compulsions: these are mental repetitions, like unnecessary sums and divisions, repeating this act several times throughout the day; Aggressive obsessions: in these cases, people are excessively afraid of committing impulsive acts, which arise in thoughts, such as injuring, killing or harming someone or yourself, unintentionally. These thoughts generate a lot of anguish, and it is common to avoid being alone or handling certain objects, such as knives or scissors, with no confidence in yourself; Accumulation compulsion: it is the inability to discard some goods, considered useless, such as packaging, old invoices, newspapers or other objects.
There are also other diverse categories, which include varieties of compulsions such as spitting, gesturing, touching, dancing or praying, for example, or obsessions, such as words, images or music that are intrusive and recurring.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder is guided by the psychiatrist, with the intake of antidepressant drugs, such as Clomipramine, Paroxetine, Fluoxetine or Sertraline.
In addition, it is also recommended to do cognitive-behavioral therapy individually or in groups with a psychologist, because it helps the person to face their fears and makes the anxiety gradually disappear, as well as promoting the correction of distorted thoughts and beliefs. Check out more details about how OCD treatment is done.
