Disorder of the Day

1. Disorder of the Day Category: Anxiety Disorders Source: DSM-IV TR

2. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) • Characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce anxiety, and by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety • Combination of thoughts and behaviors • Compulsions = tasks or “rituals”

3. Obsessions vs Compulsions • Obsessions are: • Recurrent and persistent thoughts • Impulses • Images that are intrusive and inappropriate • Compulsions are: • Repetitive behavior • Mental acts • Behaviors that prevent or reduce distress • Behaviors or acts are not connected in a realistic way with what they are supposed to neutralize

4. Symptoms • Repetitive hand washing • Extensive hoarding • Preoccupation with sexual or aggressive impulses • Aversion to odd numbers • Nervous habits (i.e. opening a door and closing it a certain number of times before entering a room) • Symptoms are often alienating, and often cause sever emotional and economic loss

5. Prevalence • OCD is the fourth-most common mental disorder • In the US 1 in 50 has OCD • Equal in both genders • Usually begins in late teens for males and early twenties for females • 3% of college graduates develop OCD while only 2% without a college degree

6. Causes of OCD • Both psychological and biological factors play a role • Abnormalities with the brains production of serotonin

8. Treatment • Therapy and medication • “exposure and ritual prevention” • SSRIs • Some extreme cases rely on “psychosurgery”