Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Many people are meticulous by nature. Some are not satisfied until they have washed a plate once more before eating, others must tug a locked door two or three times to be sure, and some are a little more careful about cleanliness than others. These are traits of personality. But when such tendencies become excessive, waste a great deal of time, and disrupt daily life, it becomes necessary to consider whether they have crossed into a disorder. In medical terms, this condition is called 'Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder', or OCD for short.

An obsession is a kind of thought or mental image that intrudes against one's will. A compulsion is an act performed under the pressure of the obsession, to reduce discomfort and anxiety. A person with this problem becomes trapped in a cycle of obsessions (the repetition of pointless thoughts) and compulsions (the irresistible urge to act on those thoughts). For example, some people feel they must bathe and change clothes every time they come home from outside. Some repeatedly check the door latch or lock, get up again and again after going to bed to make sure the door is properly shut, yet find no peace. Some count money over and over, checking five or seven times in case they made a mistake. But we call it a disorder only when it becomes a source of suffering for the person and those around them, and when the person cannot stop even though they know the behaviour is irrational.

What causes OCD?

The main causes of OCD are:

• Chemical imbalance in the brain.
• The influence of family and upbringing environment.
• Problems in communication between different parts of the brain.
• Genetic influence.

Management

The following approaches are effective for this problem:

• Psychological: Among psychological approaches, cognitive behaviour therapy is very helpful. Here the patient's obsessive and compulsive thoughts are worked on.
• Response prevention: The patient practises techniques for how to stop themselves from repeating the same action again and again.
• Thought stopping: A process that attempts to temporarily halt negative thoughts. The person is asked to wear a rubber band on the wrist; whenever an irrational thought arrives, they snap the band, feeling a slight pain that redirects their attention.
• Pharmacological: Considering the severity, duration, and type of the disorder, a psychiatrist may prescribe various medications.

The best results are obtained when medication and therapy proceed together.

Every problem is temporary if you want to overcome it, and OCD is no exception. With proper management and self-control, this problem can be brought largely under control, and unwanted suffering can be avoided.