This disorder is characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and behaviours (compulsions). Individuals with OCD experience patterns of unwanted repetitive thoughts and behaviours that are distressing, difficult to ignore and interfere significantly with a person’s everyday life.

Symptoms

Not all people experience the same symptoms or the same degree of intensity of symptoms. However, everyone with OCD experiences obsessions and/or compulsions.

Obsessions:

• Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses or images are experienced at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate. This can cause increased anxiety or distress.
• The thoughts, impulses are not just simply excessive worry about real life situations.
• The person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action.
• The person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses or images are a product of his or her mind.
  
  Examples:

- “Have I left the iron on?”
-  “Is there something seriously wrong with me?”
-  “Is this contaminated? Could it make me sick or hurt somebody?”or someone else

Compulsions:

• Compulsions are repetitive, distressing and purposeful physical behaviours, which are related to the obsessive thoughts. 
  
  Examples:

- Repeated counting of certain objects and situations e.g. cracks in the pavement.
- Hoarding things like newspapers due to a fear of giving them away.
- Repeated hand washing due to the fear of contamination.
- Constant checking to ensure doors and windows have been locked etc.
- Avoidance of certain objects and situations.

• The compulsive behaviours are ways for the person to reduce their feelings of anxiety.
• Compulsions can interfere with a person’s life to such an extent that they are unable to leave home, or function at work or school due to the many hours spent performing the rituals.
• There can be a phobic avoidance of situations that involve the content of the obsession.
• Depression along with the anxiety is common.

Age of Onset

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder usually begins in adolescence or early adulthood, it can also begin in early childhood. OCD affects males and females equally. Approximately 4% of the population suffers from OCD.

Causes

The exact causes of OCD are not fully known. Theories suggest it could be caused by:

• genetics
• a result of the effects of interaction between behaviour and the environment, beliefs and attitudes.
• Chemical changes in the brain i.e. Serotonin levels.

What Help Is Available?

OCD was once considered to be a complex and extremely rare disorder that was largely untreatable; however there are now a number of very effective treatments and therapies.

Behaviour Therapy

Involves experiencing the fearful situations that trigger the obsession (exposure) and taking steps to prevent the compulsive behaviours or rituals (response prevention). This type of therapy needs to be tailored to the individual and taken a small step at a time. This therapy assists the individual to unlearn the unwanted behaviours.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

This type of therapy challenges the person’s thought patterns and behaviours assisting them to modify their thoughts causing their unwanted behaviour.

Pharmacotherapy

Certain drugs may be prescribed to assist in correcting chemical imbalances within the brain. Not all medications are equally effective for all sufferers.

Psychotherapy

This therapy assists the individual to talk through the feelings and difficulties they may be experiencing as a direct result of the disorder, helping them to understand and cope.

Support Groups

What Can I Do To Help Myself?

• Educate family and friends about the condition so they have a better understanding about what you are experiencing.
• Join a support group where you can meet other sufferers and recovered sufferers.
• Incorporate relaxation, physical exercise, regular sleep, and a balanced diet into your life.
• Identify the stressful situations that trigger compulsive reactions, and keep track of change and improvements by the use of a diary.

What Can Families and Friends Do To Help?

• Learn about the disorder, its causes and treatment to help you understand the distress that can be caused by OCD.
• If you feel ‘entangled’ with the person’s behaviours and rituals speak to the person’s therapist or seek family therapy, rather than suddenly withdrawing your participation.
• Avoid negative comments or criticism of the person as this will only reinforce their negative feelings.
• Don’t tell the person to ‘just stop’ the behaviour.
• Encourage the person to persevere with treatment and/or medication.
• If the person is a child or an adolescent, work with their school to ensure they receive adequate support and assistance.

Where to Get Help

Obsessive Compulsive Disorders Support Service

33 Pirie Street, Adelaide, 5000