Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by a pattern of repetitive thoughts and motions that interfere with daily life. If the condition goes untreated, it can destroy the sufferer's ability to function at home, school, or work. A survey conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health indicates that OCD affects approximately two percent of the population.

Symptoms

Symptoms of OCD include:

  • Obsessions - unwanted impulses or fears that recur in the mind of the patient. These can include the fear that harm will come to themselves or a loved one, fear of contamination, and an obsessive need to do things perfectly.
  • Compulsions - in order to deal with their obsessions, patients develop behaviors known as compulsions. In the case of a patient with a contamination obsession, he/she may develop a repetitive compulsion to wash his/her hands.
  • Insight - many patients who suffer from OCD are aware of their disorder and understand that their behavior is not helpful.
  • Resistance - patients are often able to banish the unwanted obsessions and behaviors for short periods of time. However, this resistance may weaken over the years and the behaviors will begin to take over their life.
  • Shame and secrecy - OCD sufferers are usually ashamed of their disorder and, as a result, hide their condition from friends and co-workers. This means that patients with OCD often do not receive the treatment they need.

Causes

In the past, it was believed that OCD was caused by attitudes that were learned in childhood, such as cleanliness and the belief that certain thoughts are dangerous. However, because patients respond to medication, scientists now believe that OCD has a neurobiological basis. Researchers are now investigating the relationship between environmental influences and neurobiological factors in the development of OCD.

Treatment

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can be treated in three ways: with medication, with behavior therapy, or with a combination of medication and behavior therapy.

Paxil®, an anti-depressant approved by the FDA for the treatment of OCD, works to treat the condition by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin (a neurotransmitter that maintains positive emotions), thereby correcting a chemical imbalance within the brain.


Paxil® Questions

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