Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

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People with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) suffer intensely from recurrent (happens over and over) and unwanted thoughts (obsessions) or rituals (compulsions), which they feel they cannot control. Rituals such as hand washing, counting, checking, or cleaning often are performed in hope of preventing obsessive thoughts or making them go away. Doing these rituals, though, provides only temporary relief, and not doing them greatly increases anxiety. Left untreated, obsessions and the need to perform rituals can take over a person's life. OCD is often a chronic, relapsing illness.

People with OCD sometimes have other mental health disorders, such as depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or other anxiety disorders. When a person also has other disorders, OCD is often harder to diagnose and treat. A person can have symptoms of OCD at the same time as, or that are part of, other brain disorders, such as Tourette's syndrome. Getting the right diagnosis and treatment of other disorders are important to successful treatment of OCD.

Research shows that people with OCD have patterns of brain activity that differ from people with other mental illnesses or people with no mental illness at all. There is also proof that both behavioral therapy and medication can help people with OCD. A type of behavioral therapy known as "exposure and response prevention" is very useful for treating OCD. In this approach, a person is deliberately and voluntarily exposed to whatever triggers the obsessive thoughts, and then is taught techniques to avoid doing the compulsive rituals and to deal with the anxiety.

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Additional Resources

Publications

Mental Health Services Locator - This internet site can help you locate mental health treatment facilities and support services in your state.
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases/default.asp
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - This publication explains exactly what Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is, including signs, symptoms and treatment options. It also links patients to support services and treatments.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/HealthInformation/ocdmenu.cfm
Traditional Therapies - This fact sheet gives a brief description of the variety of approaches mental health professionals use to give people new tools to deal with ingrained, troublesome patterns of behavior and to help them manage symptoms of mental illness.
http://www.mentalhealth.org/publications/allpubs/ken98-0053/default.asp
When Unwanted Thoughts Take Over: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - An easy-to-read booklet on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) that explains what it is, when it starts, how long it lasts, and how to get help.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/when-unwanted-thoughts-take-over-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/...
Work-Site Accommodation Ideas for Persons with Psychiatric Impairments - This report contains basic information about common limitations, useful questions to consider, and accommodation possibilities for people who have psychiatric disabilities.
http://janweb.icdi.wvu.edu/media/Psychiatric.html
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (Copyright © MHA) - This publication provides statistical information on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, also known as OCD, including causes and treatments for the disorder.
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/ocd
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: What It is and How to Treat It (Copyright © AAFP) - This on-line publication provides information on obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD and other common obsessions, compulsions, and illnesses related to OCD.
http://familydoctor.org/133.xml

Organizations

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