Skip to main content

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder


APSARA KATUWAL DANGOL

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is mental disorder characterized by uncontrollable and recurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (Compulsions). It causes distress and disturbs daily activities. It was formerly called Anxiety disorder. The unwanted thoughts and images obligated person with OCD to perform repeated activities like washing hand regularly, checking door time and again, counting of things, ordering and arranging.



Causes of OCD
The real cause of OCD is still unknown but biological and environmental causes are responsible. Biological factor includes the chemical changes in the brain due to genetics (hereditary) and environmental factors include the death of loved one, illness, abuse, contamination, diseases,et.c.

Sign and Symptoms of OCD
People with OCD have some sign and symptoms which regularly disturbs their daily activities. Their life is really disturbed due to obsessions and compulsions.

OBSESSIONS
(mental urge or images repeated thoughts that lead to anxiety)
i. fear of contamination,
ii. excessive doubts,
iii. fear of making mistakes,
iv. aggression due to obsession,
v. fear of harming others,
vi. the need for perfection.
COMPULSION
(Repetitive behaviors for repeated thoughts)
i. Repeatedly washing or cleaning,
ii. Checking things repeatedly,
iii. Repeatedly counting, tapping, touching, rubbing,
iv. Arranging things regularly,
v. Continuously praying (mental rituals).

Diagnosis of OCD
There is no exact test to identify OCD. By interviewing patient through assessment tool, doctor diagnosis OCD by knowing how much time a patient spends on repeated behavior like data of hand washing time, checking the lock of the door.

Treatment of OCD
OCD needs to be treated as it disturbs daily activities of an individual. Cognitive behavioral and medication therapy can help an individual to reduce symptoms of OCD. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps patient with OCD to confront their fears. It helps to reduce anxiety. Medication like antidepressant like Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) like Luvox, Prozac, Zoloft helps in treating OCD.

An alternative to CBT and MT can be an Electroconvulsive therapy which can help in treating OCD or reduce symptoms of OCD.

Note: Do not use medication without a prescription of the doctor.

About Writer

Apsara Katuwal Dangol, is writer, educator, and psychosocial counselor. She writes articles which covers topics related to general and developmental psychology. She teaches to MA Clinical Psychology students as Developmental Psychology Mentor at Tri-Chandra College, and General Psychology at Shubhashree College of Management.





References:
An Overview of Obsessive - Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/obsessive-compulsive-disorder#3

 Obsessive - Compulsive Disorder
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive%E2%80%93compulsive_disorder#Signs_and_symptoms

 Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
https://www.anxietybc.com/parenting/obsessive-compulsive-disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/index.shtml

What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ocd/what-is-obsessive-compulsive-disorder





Comments

  1. Aditya RanaMay 17, 2023 at 11:12 PM

    You describe every step informative about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder here. Thank you for bringing up such an interesting topic.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Brief Description on "Self Concept "

APSARA KATUWAL  DANGOL Self Concept deals with describing own self and believing own self. Both Eastern and Western cultures have different views regarding Self Concept. According to Baumeister (1999), Self Concept is the individual's belief in himself or herself, including the person's attributes and who and what the self is. Within the development of Self Concept, there are different views and categories. According to Michael Lewis (1990), there are two categories of self-concept. i. The Existential Self: When a child is two to three months, he starts to have an existential self. He feels that he is a separate entity. He starts responding to other objects. ii.The Categorical Self: It is the sense of feeling of being an object to the world. Slowly child starts to connect himself to the world. And development related to internal traits start to develop. Carl Roger (1959) has claimed that self-concept has three component which includes self-image, self-esteem, and ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Behavioral approach in Clinical Psychology

APSARA KATUWAL  DANGOL Behavioral approach is based on the belief that behavior can be learned. It focuses on a scientific and objective method of investigation. It is also concerned with observable Stimulus-Response behaviors. This approach also focuses on learning's role in developing both normal and abnormal behavior. Early theorist Ivan Pavlov discovered classical conditioning (associative learning). He conducted a famous study using dogs. It focused on the effects of a learned response to a stimulus. For example, a dog started salivating when it heard the bell. Here, the sound of the bell would symbolize the message of getting food. Another behaviorist, Edwar L. Thorndike discovered Operant Conditioning and later B.F. Skinner analyzed operant conditioning. It is based on rewards and punishment to shape people's behavior. Edward L. Thorndike discovered Animal Intelligence. He found that punishment didn't weaken S-R connections but inhibited their expression. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

History of Counselling in Nepal

APSARA KATUWAL DANGOL During 1947, Psychology was introduced in Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus affiliated to Indian University as an intermediate level as a part of philosophy. Tribhuvan University was established in 1959 and other college came into existence.Four more colleges introduced psychology in the academic subject in intermediate and bachelor level in 1966. During the 1960s, Psychology grew slowly and outside Kathmandu Valley, introduced in two colleges. In 1980, Master's level course was introduced.At present, psychology is taught in eight campuses. Psychosocial Counselling is in the infancy stage in Nepal.Due to many problems related to social issues, it has impacted in mental health so to deal with this issues psychosocial counseling is a major component of that care. Psychosocial Counselling was introduced by Training of Trainee (TOT) to help victims. Nowadays, many organizations are involved in it. Even The School of Psychology (TSOP) is part of it. In 1991, Tra...
Post a Comment
Read more